Plastic elbows (2 more cents)

[A440PNO2NR@AOL.COM]

Hi all

    I wanted to respond to this thread for a couple reasons.  First, someone 
had made an excellent suggestion the last time plastic elbows were discussed, 
 namely, tip the piano back a little so you don't have to crouch so much ( I 
use a 2X4 block under each front leg now and my back thanks you very much).  
And secondly, I always dread the plastic ones that don't readily crumble too, 
and have also used the soldering iron aproach to melt them out but have hated 
it.  I'm definately afraid of the fumes and there's always melted plastic 
that you have to scrape off the inside part of the wippen where that thin 
wood is, and  it's very easy to scorch the wood too.  Well,  I started 
looking for some kind of nipper that would cut the plastic off the pin and 
discovered a tool used in stained glass work called  Grozer Pliers used to 
trim the glass edges.  It's too wide so you have to grind the sides down a 
little, but I used it this week and it worked great.  There's a sharp edge at 
the end of the jaw that sort of cuts through and peels the plastic off the 
pin.  I've only used it once, so far, but I suspect it's going to be my tool 
of choice from now on for those gummy elbows. A word of caution though, after 
a couple dozen or so I got a nasty blister from the pliers, so the next time 
I'll be wearing a glove.

Bill Costanzo
Rochester NY