<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <STYLE type=text/css>DIV { MARGIN: 0px } </STYLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3132" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>On a low-value piano, first I recommend considering whether piano disposal might not be the best alternative.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>If the piano is to be salvaged, I have had good luck simply grinding/shaving the excess lead off. I have several pianos where I did this procedure 5 to 10 years ago and have not seen the leads grow again. Not saying they won't - but the regrowth appears to be a fairly slow process - no guarantees though (and I point that out to the piano owner). I've never sealed the lead with anything - again, not saying that might not help - I've just never bothered and it doesn't seem to have caused any problems.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Removing/replacing is definitely the proper repair - and hey, while you're at it, maybe a good action balancing job would be in order. But the value/use of the piano needs to be considered when this level of work is contemplated.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=rsanbornmorgan@yahoo.com href="mailto:rsanbornmorgan@yahoo.com">Richard Morgan</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, June 30, 2007 6:14 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> possible swollen key leads</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: garamond, new york, times, serif"> <DIV>Regarding the Wurlitzer grand with horribly binding keys that I looked at yesterday, I did not consider swollen key leads--until Terry Farrell suggested the possibility.  Based on the research I've just done in the archives, my first inclination on this piano (if swollen leads are indeed the problem) is to trim/shave them with a sharp chisel and seal with thin CA glue.  This will probably fit my client's pocketbook better than removing/replacing the leads.  Should I, though, consider (and sell to the client) the idea of removing/replacing?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks,</DIV> <DIV>Richard Morgan</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV><BR> <HR SIZE=1> Need a vacation? <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48256/*http://travel.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTFhN2hucjlpBF9TAzk3NDA3NTg5BHBvcwM1BHNlYwNncm91cHMEc2xrA2VtYWlsLW5jbQ--">Get great deals to amazing places </A>on Yahoo! Travel. </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>