<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I think Bill Spurlock mentions in his article to = make sure the grain is parallel with the long axis of the key. I used basswood on = a set I did recently. I know that is often used. Some suggest maple, but = Spurlock expressed some concern regarding potential noise with maple. Most = True-Value hardware stores or any decent hobby shop will have a variety of craft = wood of various species and thicknesses. MallWort might have it, but who would = ever go there (ever wonder why you don't have a crarft store = nearby?)?</FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT = size=2></FONT></FONT> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> Hey! all you lovable piano technicians. = <G><BR>> <BR>> I'm doing the replacement repair ala Spurlock on the balance = rail hole and<BR>> was looking for the ideal wood to use.<BR>> <BR>> I = can go talk to an old friend who is a logger and has his own mill and = get<BR>> some nice tight grain Sugar Pine but I'm not sure if grain orientation = is<BR>> important. Plus it's work to reduce the stuff.<BR>> <BR>> The Bass = wood might be hard to find nearby. Wal-mart is the closest thing we<BR>> = have to a craft store. Would they have it?<BR>> <BR>> What I would like to = do is cut up some old keys I have. The grain is going<BR>> the right direction = and the width is already there. Or maybe some soundboard<BR>> ribs. A good idea?<BR>> <BR>> Keith Roberts</FONT></BODY></HTML>