•Whilst on the subject of drilling into a screw and using Easy-outs: If you often need to drill holes in just the right spots, a useful tool is a spring loaded centre punch. You can position it accurately and then push down on it by hand, till an internal spring releases with an impact, making a cen...

•One caution about using Easy-Outs: you definitely don't want to wind up with a broken-off Easy-Out stuck in the fastener that you're trying to remove! They are quite tough, and you can't attack a broken Easy-Out with a drill. The advice of using the largest one possible should be followed. I've see...

•Hi, my problem is not about mechanical music, but it's related to refinishing pianos too. When I laid my hardwood floor two years ago, I didn't have the energy to varnish it. So it's quite dirty now. I'm about to varnish and sand it (most of the superficial dirt will be sanded away) but some grease...

•I think the best solution for removing grease from wood will probably be a weak lye solution, not so strong that it attacks the wood, of course. Lye will saponify the grease and oil quickly -- keep it scrubbed up and refreshed, and then neutralize it with white vinegar. Solvents just trap a portion...

•My guess would be that mineral spirits or paint thinner would be pretty good at removing grease. We've used it for cleaning grease off of parts on our carousel during and after restoration. In wood, it will probably take several to many applications to thin and draw the grease out. Stains may remai...

•Hi all. A method that is commonly used in restoration of wood and porous stones to extract undesired absorbed substances is the following. Apply on the object a poultice made with cellulose pulp soaked with the proper solvent for the given matter. The solvent mobilizes the matter, and then it is ab...

•I was just wondering if anybody else has been having the same aggravating problems that I have with RealPlayer? Ever since I downloaded a "free" sample of RealPlayer, I have been trying to get it out of my computer in vain. When I try to download an mp3 file, Windows says that it cannot find RealPl...

•This responds to Craig Brougher's problem uninstalling RealPlayer which, like many other programs, has left tendrils throughout his system. I've had this problem with many programs and getting rid of them is like getting rid of mould. I have a suggestion, but I don't want anybody to do this for a f...

•I used McAfee Uninstaller to successfully get rid of RealPlayer and all references to it in Windows 98. I also use this program regularly to clean up junk files, and it appears to work very well. So far, it has never deleted any critical files and I've had it for some time. I don't think the McAfee...

•Removal of all traces of RealPlayer is simple and complete with a freeware utility called RegCleaner. It is available for download from: http://www.jv16.org/ I have used RegCleaner for several years with no problems at all. The interface is intuitive and the results are always what I want done. Bef...

•What does everyone here on this list use Windows? Is there no one out there who can help us remove RealPlayer from a PowerMac? Every time I try to click on a music file that a web site offers, RealPlayer says some obscene thing to me in code on how it can't go any further. Totally frustrating. I wo...

•Craig Brougher asked in 020221 MMDigest: > I was just wondering if anybody else has been having the same > aggravating problems that I have with RealPlayer? You need to go one step beyond Robbie's recommendation for changing the assignment to file extensions; it's just too difficult to modify the a...

•> Is there no one out there who can help us remove RealPlayer > from a PowerMac? Dear Mr. LaTorre (and other Mac users on the MMD list), I use both QuickTime and RealPlayer on my PowerMac 8600/G3, and haven't had any problems with either. I am, however, using the latest version of RealPlayer and my...

•Andy LaTorre wrote, "What does everyone here on this list use Windows? Is there no one out there who can help us remove RealPlayer from a PowerMac?" Andy, It's not too difficult to remove an application from a Mac. Cleaning out the extensions is a little tougher, but not usually necessary; once the...

•To find "RealPlayer" items (or any other files) in the Macintosh systems OS 9.x and OS 10.x (and possibly earlier operating systems, I can't remember), use "Sherlock" which is part of the operating system. Be sure Sherlock is searching the hard drive in your computer (or other external hard drives ...

•Hi All, Over the years I've had numerous occasions to remove corroded parts from a variety of devices. Across the board, I've found that the most effective technique involves forcing the part to go further "in" before attempting to take it "out". I realize that that might sound a little vague, so I...

•Roger Wiegand was asking about how to remove a reed frozen in a slot with mouse urine. To remove a frozen reed, I would use a solution of muriatic acid with some phosphoric acid and an eyedropper. By carefully letting capillary action wick the acid between the reed frame and the wooden slot its fro...

•In regard to Spencer Chase's statements that hide glue is difficult to remove, perhaps he is not using the heat method for removal? I am in the process of recovering all of the pneumatics in our Ampico, after discovering the bellows material that I purchased and applied nine years ago is failing an...

•When I restored my player (my first and so far only), I read several books and info on the internet about removing hide glue. The general consensus seems to be that sanding is best. I have to agree with that for the most part. But for some parts of a player sanding is not practical, such as removin...

•I wholeheartedly agree with Bruce Clark's comments on the ease of working with animal glue. It is extremely easy to remove, with a bit of care and patience. I use all sorts of different heat weapons in my arsenal of restoration tools. A couple of handy weapons are a hot air gun and an electric sold...