<div>I had mentioned the vise grips and that if marring the paint was a concern a little piece of self adhesive nameboard felt on each jaw of the pliers does a good job of alleviating that concern. I found a small pair at Sears with a coating on the handles so if they bump something there's less chance of a nick also.  </div> <div>I don't clamp the string to the pin but simply clamp the pliers on the end of the pin which prevents the loop from dis-engaging from the hitchpin but still allows it movement around the pin between the plate and the end of the pliers. Clamping it to the pin would/could cause a nick or bend in the loop that could cause it to weaken and break later on. </div> <div>As I said in my initial post, it's not that I know this to be better, it's what I learned years ago(I'm 38 years in the business)to not buy single use tools if you have one that can do the job already. Some single use tools are indispensible and others I've never seen the need for, some I bought, certain I would need them and 20 years later have yet to use them! I was certain I could get along without the little tool for holding brass flanges in place while you start the screw, until I had to replace almost 2 dozen on one piano and realized I might be wrong, I was.  </div> <div>On 8/7/07, John Formsma <<a href="mailto:formsma@gmail.com">formsma@gmail.com</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">Hey, it's probably me off track again. I'm used to it. <G>. I was talking about replacing individual strings, and thought the post to which I responded was about keeping the string on the hitch pin whilst getting the rest of it to tension. Someone had mentioned using the vise grips to twist, then clamp the string to the pin. I've always used the bass string twist tool to put a twist in the wire, then a spring clamp to hold it in place.  I like the smooth surface of the clamp, and that it doesn't tend to mar the pin paint. If I think of it, I will try the vise grips, but so far the other tool has worked well. JF On 8/7/07, Ron Nossaman <<a href="mailto:rnossaman@cox.net">rnossaman@cox.net</a>> wrote: > > >> A small spring clamp also works quite well.  I keep one of those in my > >> stringing kit.  Small, so it takes up very little space.  Always > >> handy, always there. > > > > Not so much use as the vise-grip if you want to twist the string, > > though.  I use  a pair of 4" vise-grip type grips made in China that you > > can get very cheaply. > > > > JD > > I seem to have lost track here - not surprising, considering > it's me, but are we talking about replacing an individual > string or restringing? Individual string replacement, pin-in, > the Vise-Grip(s) or functional equivalent(s) work great. > Restringing, the pin with the coil wound on is an ideal > T-handle with which to twist the string (hitch engaged) before > driving it into the block. > > Just checking, > Ron N > </blockquote></div> -- Michael Magness Magness Piano Service 608-786-4404 <a href="http://www.IFixPianos.com">www.IFixPianos.com </a> email <a href="mailto:mike@ifixpianos.com">mike@ifixpianos.com</a>