<html> <body> Dick, I guess this is a question of degree.  How much more do you want to achieve?  Filing with high grit, 300+, can get you a little more.  Treating with a little acetone tends to tighten things up and get you a little more.  Ironing, on the wool setting, will get you more but is also debated as to its benefits versus drawbacks.  Play-in get's you there too and can be achieved with Joe's jigsaw thumping method. I've been a little reticent (read scared) to try that one yet.  Mind you those new strings are going to need lots of tuning, so use a "bonker" and get them all played in a little.  Also take your voicing tool, turn it over and tamp those hammers, on a voicing tray of-course. Wurzen front-rail punchings turned a brand-new chinese make I have for-sell into a singing instrument (with other issues now made obvious) much to my surprise.  Always worth an experiment. ;-) Then there is the choice between ultra-blond shellac or lacquer.  The shellac will tend to break up a little with play-in so it might be easier to avoid overshooting long-term.  There may be a color drawback to shellac, tends to shades of yellow.  Than there's lacquer which usually should be significantly thinned .  You can, to some extent, wash this down with thinner if you over-achieve.  I'll pass of to the lacquer gurus for details and methodology. For that plastic "ping" there's always that keytop solution.  Not that I recommend it. :-D Andrew At 03:12 PM 9/16/2005, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dl> <dd>Just installed new hammers and strings in a rather old baby grand in a church.  Obviously not even going to have best tone quality.  But pianist is complained that the tone doesn't ring.  I think the hammers are too soft.  Regulation, downbearing and strike point are all correct.  Am thinking of using the lacquer technique on the hammers.  Never done this.  Where on the hammer do you apply lacquer and how much.  Any tips from "experienced lacquerers" would be welcomed and thanks for taking the time. <dd>  <dd>Dick Day <dd>Marshall MI </dl></blockquote></body> </html>