Maybe it's just the lack of testing on strings.  I will uncover the string, still in the goo and see what happens.  It does dry and I have put it on at the end of the day.  Maybe that could be a factor.  It is really interesting to see the different opinions on it.  Do the hammers wear out faster with it? Does dry softener still have an effect on the string? Is the hammer felt doomed to fall apart for lack of proper tension? Or are we just flirting with disaster?  Perhaps if schools of music would just realize that more work has to be done to pianos than they thought, maybe funding changes might occur?  I doubt that would happen!  Let us all rally to further educate our schools and faculty that pianos wear out.  I'm working with a piano older than my father (b. 1922).  I think the makers of this fine instrument would be amazed that it lasted this long, let alone that it has been played 10 -1 2 hours per day for the last 20 years or more!  Any more thoughts are surely welcome! Thanks Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>Jeff Tanner <jtanner@mozart.sc.edu> Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 04/03/2007 03:26 PM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: [CAUT] Experiment success!</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> On Apr 3, 2007, at 3:32 PM, Willem Blees wrote: Jeff You'll find no corrosion on the wire. Corrosion happens when metal is  exposed to moisture AND air. So for your experiment to work, dampen  the wire with Downy and let it just sit there. But I'm afraid that  will not give you the results you're looking for anyway. It's the  moisture in the Downey that causes the wire to corrode. Not  necessarily the chemicals.  Wim  I just remember there was some discussion that Downy shouldn't be used around the piano wire because of corrosion that was allegedly attributed to it.  It is very possible that there are also acids in the Downy that could instigate corrosion.  I'm no chemist, and I don't know.  I just recall the discussion and the conclusion was to recommend against using fabric softener.   Jeff Jeff Tanner, RPT University of South Carolina