<html> Hi Ed,           If you took a fair amount of felt off add 1/8", for crude and nasty.  But it will be close.  I would go with the 14Lb hammers for this piano. regards Roger. At 07:40 PM 6/27/01 -0700, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>Dear List. I am working on a Hamilton/Baldwin 5' grand.  The owner has decided that he wants to replace the hammers due to damage from wine spilled into piano.    What am I letting myself in for??  I will get the new hammers from Schaff.  They list several weights; 12 lb, 14 lb, 16 lb.  Which should I ask for?  They also list a striking distance of 1 7/8, 2" and 2-1/8".  The action handbook says a blow distance of 1 7/8", but the Schaff catalogue says to "measure from the center of the bore hole to the top of the felt, allowing for wear on #88 hammer."  Whoa... what the heck does this mean when I have already shaped the hammers and taken off felt? Ed Carwithen John Day  </blockquote> </html>