Pinblock too low

[Newton Hunt]

I think I would get some help and put the piano on saw horses,
up-side-down.  I get nauseous just thinking of working in it's current,
position.  

I would use my power planer to remove as much material as needed,
probing carefully for tuning pin ends and use a very short punch and
heavy hammer to drive the pins upward.  My planer has a bag to hold dust
but I would think about covering the underside of the strings and have
some compressed air ready to finish the job.  (When the customer is not
there of course)

I would like to check the plate height, bearing, crown and try to
determine why the block is so low.  Did the "other person" leave out
some shims or was the shelves cut down?  

If the plate has been lowered it may be best to back out of a job like
this. :(

Look this project over carefully before you commit to doing the job and
double the time you think it will take to cut the block down.  You can
always give some back but it is hard to ask for more.

		Newton