<div> Thanks to all for the great suggestions.  I was thinking along the lines of a jig with a hole and a hammer/punch to get the thing out, but then I thought there must be some kind of pliers for this.  OF course there are, but they ain't cheap (as mentioned by Michael, they are Renner products...).<br> <br> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Bob, This is an e 131, and it was a Costco purchase, via Colton pianos.  The original problems were numerous:   there were pinning issues all over the place, tight key bushings, and a whopping 8mm keydip that needed to be repaired before I could even get to the final major issue of key weighting.  <br> <br> I've got a couple of questions for you:  did you remove the lead closest to the balance rail hole or the one closer to the front rail mortise?  Or both?<br> <br> And other than being unsightly, what issues can be expected from an unfilled lead hole?  Noisier keys, structurally unsound?  <br> <br> Thanks for your input.  I'll talk to Sam at YC about a warranty claim on this one.<br> <br> Dave<br> </font></div> <div> <br> </div> <div> <br> </div> -----Original Message-----<br> From: ITUNEPIANO@aol.com<br> To: pianotech@ptg.org<br> Sent: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 4:17 pm<br> Subject: Re: Key lead removal tool?<br> <br> <div id="AOLMsgPart_2_91d6d4bb-8e33-4fa6-9719-12b1e518883e"> <font id="role_document" color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2"> <div>Hi Dave.  Is this an E-109?  I've seen several here that needed lead removal.  Young Chang has paid for the removal, but hesitated on covering  plugging of holes, or a proper re-weighting.  The lead removal does make the piano function  (black keys, usually;  sometimes whites past the damped notes).  In the past, I've just held the key to a jig with an appropriate hole  (lead sized or larger) and punched the lead out with a hammer and punch.  A vise works as a jig.  Some lead dust can be expected, so use a drop cloth if done in a customer's home.  </div> <div> </div> <div><font face="Arial" lang="0" size="2">Bob Maret, RPT<br> Piano Technician<br> </font></div> </font><br> <br> <br> <div><font style="color: black; font-family: ARIAL,SAN-SERIF; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><hr style="margin-top: 10px;">See what's new at <a title="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" target="_blank" href="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170">AOL.com</a> and <a title="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" target="_blank" href="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169">Make AOL Your Homepage</a>.</font></div> </div>  <div class="AOLPromoFooter"> <hr style="margin-top:10px;" /> Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/index.htm?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000970" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>!<br/> </div>