Mike Haydon wrote:

> I have had no luck ordering through my local music store as they want
> to sell me their services and not the tools!

I ran into some of the same difficulties when I first got into this
business nearly 10 years ago.  Music stores rarely, if ever want to
sell these kind of supplies, and if they do you will pay way too much
for them.  Piano supply companies try to protect retail distribution
via professional technicians by NOT selling to the open public.
This sounds kind of silly but it usually works:

Print up some business cards, i.e.  "Haydon's Piano Tuning and
Service", etc.  Send a business letter-head (generated by your
computer) requesting a current catologue and price list and staple
a business card to the bottom.  They will then consider you
professional enough to do business with.

In extreme cases find a local technician to write a letter for you
stating that you are a student piano tech and wish to do make an order
from "XXX" piano supply company.  They are usually willing to sell to
students.

If you are just starting out I would recommend looking at some of the
basic "starter kits" on page 9 of the Schaff tool catalogue.  You can
add more later as you learn more about what type of tools you like and
dislike.

Rob Goodale, RPT