Doug Bullock and Steve Marx say they can rebuild a player system
well in six days.  I don't doubt this, I know it can be done.
A "typical single-valve Standard" takes me about 70 hours to rebuild.
I will "break down" the hours each component takes me.

We all have vastly different experience, education, workshop
situations, energy/work speed, motivation levels, manual dexterity
aptitudes, etc. etc. etc.  I am a piano technician.  I also service
and rebuild player pianos for a living in the New York metro area.
I've been in the trade for 32 years.  My biggest focus has been on
the type of efficiency which does not sacrifice quality.  I was
mentored by Joe Sciortino, one of the best ever innovators and piano
tool inventors.  Joe was a "rock star" as far I was concerned.

I have had to create numerous tools and jigs and fixtures and buy
what I could from Bob Streicher and piano supply houses, etc.  It's
not like other trades -- we either have to make many of our own tools
or "make do" with what's available for certain jobs.

I came up with a great valve facing center hole tool.  I can "knock
out" a set of valve facings very fast.  I make "wise" use of power
screwdrivers; I use power screwdrivers for installing leather nuts
as well.  One of my simple jigs allows me to lay out 15 strips of
pneumatic cloth I can quickly glue the "spans" of all the pneumatics.
I like the "roller method" for gluing the sides of the pneumatics.
I drop the transmission into an ultrasonic cleaner and let it do the
work.

I can save a _huge_ amount of time rebuilding all components with
medium bellows cloth all at the same time.  I lay them out on several
work benches and disassemble them all.  I can sand all the pneumatics
at the same time, punch out and install all pouches and valve facings,
cut all the cloth at the same time, make one pot of hide glue for
everything.

Here is typical single valve Standard player action restoration time
for me: bottom bellows 12 hours; pneumatics, gaskets and leather nuts
20 hours; valves and pouches 20 hours; medium bellows components 12
hours; miscellaneous 8 hours.

Rebuilding times are going to vary _greatly_ from person to person.
Doug does _way_ more player rebuilding than I do, but I have _way_ more
experience than most "hobbyists."  When I was less experienced, that
Standard player system may have taken me 120-150 hours to restore.

Bill Maguire