<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=rol= e_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>   </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Hey guys</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  I've tried several ways of trimming the long ends= of new shanks. For years I'd clamp a section O shanks in a jaras or spurlock cl= amp & then cut with a small back saw. The set up got to be tedious recently & frankly the procedure isn't fool proof so I have started using the new= pianotek center pin cutters which are nicely made which cut cleanl= y enough to avoid tear out of any wood that protrudes into the shank hole. Wha= t little is left I remove by propping the shanks up on a straight edge, placing the action right out on the edge of my bench & removing the= remainder with a 3" by 18 inch belt sander with 120 ish paper. I use just th= e front roller primarily. It's an easy process & it also cleans up any min= or imperfections in hammer tail line. The tails are lightly roughed as well. I don't like tails very  roughened but it seems to help the intial seatin= g of the tail in new check leather.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3> It's important to screw the stack down to the benc= h for safety before sanding so it doesn't flop on the floor. DAMHIK cause I haven't done it Safety first ya know.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3> What do other do?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Merry Christmas</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Dale Erwin <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"= >Erwins Pianos Restorations <BR>4721 Parker Rd.<BR>Modesto, Ca 95357<BR>209-577-8397<BR>Reb= uilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales<BR>www.Erwinspiano.com</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>