<html> <body> At 06:10 AM 9/5/2003 -0500, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Sorry, I have to ask: the hammer *shanks* have a coat of graphite?  Does this reduce friction with -- I dunno -- the air during play?!?   I'm still trying to figure out why bridge caps are graphited.  With 150 lbs. of tension on thin treble wire and just a few degrees of downbearing, I can't imagine that an un-graphited wooden cap gives much friction to steel during rendering.  But, I haven't done any experimentation.  </blockquote> Sorry that I was not clear.    The bushing cloth in Renner action parts are coated with a thin coat of graphite. Regards Roger</body> </html>