<HTML>In a message dated 10/4/01 3:58:30 AM Central Daylight Time, gharvey@netsource.co.nz writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">How many among us use the string roller tools for stretching and settling new strings in a piano? </BLOCKQUOTE> I have used a string roller, but now I use a device that I copied from Greg Hulme. It is a fulcrum type of device that pushes the strings up from underneath, like a hammer would hit the string. I find it takes enough stretch out of a string so that it will settle in with about 5 tunings over a 2 week period.  The piano still needs to be tuned 4 or 5 times in the first year, but it has really settled in before it leaves the shop. Willem </HTML>