<HTML>In a message dated 03/28/2002 7:10:05 AM Eastern Standard Time, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Gee, I'm not sure that would help on many of the pianos I see. If you rough up the outer portion (string side) of the hammer felt, doesn't that interfere with the ability of the strings to get down to the bottom of the grooves?   ;-) </BLOCKQUOTE> Terry , That's exactly right, it let's the hammer stike in a soft,napped up place, instead of a rock- hard grooved area,where they should'nt be to start with.I'm talking about hard crusty hammers, that have not had any attention in their lifetime,and sound like tin-pan alley.I have been doing this for years,and my customers love it.You have to know how much is enough,so as not to damage the hammer,although the hammers I am talking about,are probally bullet proof. Good tuning Hazen Bannister</HTML>