I'm gluing on a set of upright hammers now, using a custom tool that really works well to spread the glue onto the shank. I bought a short piece of 1/4 inch brake line at the automotive store, cut off 2 inches and glued that end onto a hammer shank with the flare end out. Just stick this down into your hide glue, or whatever you are using, and it picks up a load of glue. Then stick it over the end of the hammer shank you are gluing, give it a twirl, and you've got a beautiful spread of glue uniformly around the shank. Dean Dean May cell 812.239.3359 PianoRebuilders.com 812.235.5272 Terre Haute IN 47802 Nice glue collar though, eh? Check out Steinway glue "collars". They look similar, only not as sloppy. Instead of making a neat collar, Steinway uses a hide glue that (with appropriate additives?) dries to about the color of the hammer molding so the mess isn't obvious unless you look closely. Works just fine, and saves them a lot of time. Ron N
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