<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Once again; I would suggest using a piece of angled aluminum - my piece is about 6-7" long, and an inch wide on either side, at a 90 degree angle; simply lift the dampers with the pedal, slide the aluminum piece in behind and on top of them, and then with a short ruler of some sort push the strip down all the way underneath the dampers (which are completely protected from damage by the aluminum strip). You can then remove the aluminum and proceed to tune as you normally would. Sheet metal bent at 90 degrees would work also, of course. The aluminum is nice and light, though, and just the right configuration.<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The dampers then work normally, and you can pull out the strip one note (actually two) at a time as you work your way up, unmuting one string on each of the two unisons (so you need to have tuned the center string up in the next unison before you pull the strip, if you're tuning unisons as you go - otherwise, just tune center strings all the way up, and then begin to pull the strip as you tune outside strings to the center strings on the way up). </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I then only have to use the rubber mute (with the magnet attached on a string) on unisons that may slip or need touching up afterwards.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I hope this is helpful.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Allen Wright, RPT</DIV><DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On 26 Feb 2007, at 00:22, John Formsma wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">You probably have a piece of stiff cardboard around the house that you could cut and use temporarily. I've taken the metal from a VCR housing to make stuff with. Might find something around your house. <grin><BR> <BR>JF<BR><BR><DIV><SPAN class="gmail_quote">On 2/25/07, <B class="gmail_sendername"><A href="mailto:pianotune05@comcast.net">pianotune05@comcast.net</A></B> <<A href="mailto:pianotune05@comcast.net">pianotune05@comcast.net </A>> wrote:</SPAN><BLOCKQUOTE class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Is there a subsitute for sheet metal? I don't have a shop. I wonder if they still make these metal rulers that were kinda fat and flimsy, and is so would that work? </FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial">Marshall</FONT></DIV></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Allen Wright</DIV><DIV>6 Clay Court, 219 Long Lane</DIV><DIV>London SE1 4PB</DIV><DIV>United Kingdom</DIV><DIV>020 7378 8265 </DIV><DIV>0780-688-1325 (mobile)</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>