paint & agraffe plate holes

[A440A@aol.com]

2. What is your favorite method of agraffe reaming?  >>

I take a 7 or 8 inch piece of heavy, heavy piece of bass string core and roll 
it between two files to form a round rasp about one inch from the end.  Then, 
I swedge this roughened section with a hammer until it doesn't quite fit 
through the agraffe hole. Cut so that there is about 1/8" of smooth wire in front 
of the swedge section and chuck it in a small electric drill.  
    The swedging profile will make a very mild burnisher/rasp that forms a 
reverse funnel shape, (I know, it is not a true taurus) in the agraffe.  This 
has worked well for me for years.  It removes very little brass, but cleans out 
all the corrosion and a small amount of the indentation in the top of the 
agraffe holes, allowing the new wire to seat itself firmly and without noise. 
    The length of the wire also allow me to 'steer' the tool into the 
agraffes in the same direction the string will be approaching it. 
Regards,   
Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html