<html> At 08:16 PM 10/11/2001 -0700, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>About 15 yrs ago I got about 100 lbs. of piano wire from an estate along with a lot of other stuff. There were 5 lb rolls of most sizes.  I've been using this stuff all these years.  I really like working with 5 lb rolls.  I made dispensers out of 1/8 inch peg board and cut a hole in the top to pull the wire out.  I have a 5 lb roll of 11 1/2 thru 22. A couple of problems:  Two or three are brittle.  I can't put a bass string type loop without the wire fracturing.  I always have to find a small roll for that size.  Not much of a problem except when an old piano had those loops for every string.  Probably not uniformly annealed.  Probably different brands as well.  Also, a few rolls don't match the others in color and sheen.  There are a few sizes I'm running low on. I've considered investing in a 5 lb roll of each size hoping I'll get the same color, sheen etc. for appearance sake. I'd like to use only one brand and type for everything. Question: I've heard some say "Brand X is the best" but never could get an understandable reason.  Is there much difference in brands or types?  Do some sound different?  Is it practical to use only stainless?  And why why why?  Thanks for any biased or otherwise opinions. Carl Meyer  Assoc. PTG Santa Clara, California cmpiano@home.com</blockquote> Some years ago I switched from Roslau tinned to Mapes Gold Series and never regretted it. The tone is warmer and the appearance is cleaner. I still have the Roslau in the canisters and use it for field repairs. I also have unopened packages of one pound coils and would be happy to find a home for them. Regards, Jon Page,   piano technician Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. <a href="mailto:jonpage2001@mediaone.net" eudora="autourl">mailto:</a>jonpage2001<a href="mailto:jonpage2001@mediaone.net" eudora="autourl">@mediaone.net</a> <a href="http://www.stanwoodpiano.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.stanwoodpiano.com</a> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</html>