<html> <body> Yeah, and a brake line from the auto parts store works well too and only costs a couple bucks! Greg Newell At 10:31 PM 11/18/2002 -0500, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>    Al:     Try a tool called "The Stringer" from Pianotek.  It is an extendable brass tube that the strings thread into, the tube then goes in place from the top of the piano following the space where the old strings came out of.  Hook the new strings that you have made into a "U" over the hitch pin, carefully pull the stringer off the strings, and voila!  They are in the proper place and cannot cross over each other or get out of position.  It is well worth the $40 and works great on any piano.  The lunch sounded great!     Mike Kurta <dl> <dd>----- Original Message ----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:mathstar@salemnet.com">Alan R. Barnard</a> <dd>To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> <dd>Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 9:54 PM <dd>Subject: Pulling Some Strings <dd>Any tips for replacing plain wire strings, tenor section, under the bass strings, with the appropriate bridge section also under the bass strings and directly behind the bottom rail on a drop action (sticker wires) piano? <dd>  <dd>The customer was nice enough to hold flashlight, hold the wire ends and above, etc. No problem getting the lower end down and onto the pin (used the ol' safety pin trick) and, actually, getting the strings on the bridge properly was not too bad (thin screwdriver and thin needle-nosed pliers). But those danged wires want to cross each other every which way and tangle up with the stupid dampers ..... ooog. Had them on, under the pressure bar, coiled and then ... only when I started tensioning the second one did I find out they were still crossed .... <dd>  <dd>I'd hate to remove & replace a drop action just for one silly string .... <dd>  <dd>Good part! This lady (senior citizen) gave me a bag of home made cookies on my last visit. This time, she called to her husband, who was "helping" me do some surgery on her piano, and me, to come to lunch---roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, veggies, rolls, cole slaw, cranberry sauce, carrot cake, and ice cream. Delicious dinner, delightful people. <dd>  <dd>Now if their 1974 Conover would stop beating me up every time I visit ... <dd>  <dd>Alan Barnard <dd>Life Can Be Sweet in Salem, MO (although the piano is in West Plains) <dd>  <dd>(Hey David Vanderhoofven: This is the job you referred to me. For the people, thanks; for the piano ... well, I'll get even somehow!!! :-) </dl></blockquote></body> </html>