to have the old strings cleaned, I always tell them that only about 75% of the tone is likely to be restored. Often it is more, seldom is it less. To remove all the wound strings takes about an hour and a half and is a dirty job. Old clothes are required, along with spare cloths and newspapers. The action is removed and even the keys if necessary to allow the best possible access to the strings. The tuning pins are turned - usually no more than one revolution - until the coil just starts to buckle. No further, otherwise the string may break at the becket. I have a tool specially made for me that lifts the coil off the tuning pin very effectively. A blunt screwdriver, pliers and a string hook are also used as required. There is quite a skill in removing and replacing strings, often having to alternate between all four tools for some coils. Despite initial hesitation through reading various texts, I have been assured that the piano will suffer no damage due to unequal tension. My experience has certainly not revealed any sign of the piano suffering in this respect. If the piano has an agraffe, such as in a grand, I do not attempt to pull the strings through but rather, clean them while still in the piano. I have been told by other technicians that it is quite in order to pull the coil through the hole in the agraffe, but I