I would anneal the plates, regardless, as they have a tendency to snap in the middle if tightened off centre, by accident of course. <div class="gmail_quote">On 27 July 2011 01:25, Joseph Garrett <<a href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">joegarrett@earthlink.net</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">Ron said: "This will give you the numbers. Sometimes the Internet is actually good for something. <a href="http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.html" target="_blank">http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.html</a> Brass expands more. So as you heat the things up, the steel screws should get looser in the brass, then tight again as everything cools. I'm not sure it's been satisfactorily determined whether the whole annealing process is worth the trouble though." Ron, Thanks. That does gives some "numbers" to the question. Not sure if the numbers tell me anything more than brass expands a lot more than steel.<G> My "gut" tells me to get rid of the flanges, but IF the annealing process gives them a new life, (which they have had for 100 years now.), it would be a whole lot less hassle to keep them. Of course, I must think of the "Long Term" implications as well. Hmmm? I've seen good results with annealed brass rails. The fellow that does them has done the rails with and without the screws and plates attached. He hasn't found there to be any difference, although he did add: "so far".<G> Things to think about for sure. Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police Squares R I </blockquote></div> -- Bruce Browning The Piano Tuner