dented piano wire

[Lance Lafargue]

Last week I worked for a piano competition on a Steinway D.  In the lower
treble section of the piano a previous tech had tapped the speaking length
of the treble wire with something near the bridge pins, so that just before
the bridge pins on the speaking lenght the strings were kinked or dented.
Of course I fought false beats all week.

To prep the piano initially I seated strings at all pressure points, pulled
some wire around hitch pins which pulled the dents out of the speaking
length, and in desperation, even took a pair of needle nose pliers and tried
to reverse the kinks or straighten the wire (only minimal improvement).
Does anyone have any other suggestions short of restringing this piano?
Thanks.

Lance Lafargue, RPT
Mandeville, LA
New Orleans Chapter