<html> <body> I agree with Terry. Take it to your shop. That way you don't have to worry about lying on your back wearing goggles! :-D Besides, it's easier with the action out of the piano! And maybe you can talk the customer into having those damper flanges replaced while you're at it. Avery Todd At 10:11 PM 1/5/2007, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">If you'll go to <a href="http://www.ptg.org/newsletters/631/2006/07.pdf"> http://www.ptg.org/newsletters/631/2006/07.pdf</a> you'll see a brief article with pictures and a discussion on making this job quick and (relatively) easy.   I, too, use straight forcips and sometimes a small pair of curved-blade needle-nosed pliers to snip the remains after first using regular pliers (or fingers) to break any elbows not already broken.   One further thing: When you are lying on the floor--looking up--to clean those whippens, it is a FANTASTIC idea to wear eye protection!   And, by the way, those damper flanges are doomed, sooner rather than later. <dl> <dd>-----Original Message----- <dd>From: piannaman@aol.com <dd>Sent: Jan 5, 2007 9:28 PM <dd>To: pianotech@ptg.org <dd>Subject: elbow job <dd> Liszt, <dd>  <dd>I did an elbow job today on an old Sohmer 32 spinet.  I was surprised at the quality of the piano, and it seems to me that Sohmer wasn't necessarily trying to cut the overhead with the plastic they used, because the rest of the instrument is quite well made.  Unfortunately, the damper flanges have are made of the same ivory colored plastic.  Fortunately, they don't get the same impact as elbows. <dd>  <dd>The customers had the Beatles White Album on at my request as I worked, which helped quite a bit.  Took about 4 hours.  Straight forceps are really the thing to dig out broken plastic and bushings from the wippens, IMHO.  I thought I was moving along pretty well, but 4 hours seemed a bit long.  Then I thought, "88 elbows to break off, wips to clean out, threads to clean out and lube, new elbows to clip in place, and buttons to regulate."  This was the 3rd or 4th elbow job I've ever done.  <dd>  <dd>I'm just curious how long this job takes some of you who have done it more frequently. <dd>  <dd>Dave Stahl <dd><a href="http://dstahlpiano.net/" eudora="autourl"> http://dstahlpiano.net/</a> <hr> <dd> <a href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/1615326657x4311227241x4298082137/aol?redir=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaol%2Ecom%2Fnewaol"> Check out the new AOL</a>. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more. </dl> <pre> Salem, Missouri </pre></blockquote></body> </html>