[AT] OT - piano

[Larry D. Goss]

Well, good luck with it, David.  You know enough now to do it without
damage.  Spinets are a slam-dunk.  I regularly flip them on their backs
single handedly for transport or for other work that requires it, such
as caster replacement.  But you've got to think ahead about what you're
doing.  Take it slow, and NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON IT.  Seriously.  Face
the piano the whole time you're working with it.  Don't let it move an
inch without it being squarely in front of you.

Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of David Bruce
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 4:15 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] OT - piano

I read many replies with great things to consider and rather than
respond to 
each individually I'll respond to Larry's.
Thanks to everyone who shared ideas.  This piano is a spinet (I think,
not 
really up on pianos, it's small and upright - certainly not a grand).
I failed to mention earlier that I plan on making a frame of dimension
lumber as 
you suggested Larry.  It stayed in my best friend's house for several
years in 
Raleigh, NC (my wife was living there and we had professional movers
move it 
across town - I made sure to watch what they did carefully for the
knowledge). 
When time came to move it from my friend's house to my mother's he and I
did the 
moving with the earlier mentioned trailer (we had no problems during
that move). 
  One thing I can assure you of is the piano will be secured seven ways
to 
Sunday before the trailer moves an inch (I firmly believe in lots of
securing). 
  I'm a firm believer in thoroughly researching a project like moving
the piano 
(I would much rather spend some time pondering and asking questions
beforehand 
as opposed to the aw**** when things go wrong).
I have one of the open furniture dollies (actually I have a purchased
one and 
one I made from some casters and lumber scraps) and I even have a rope
tied to 
it for just the reason mentioned.  The tip about the fall board is
something I 
hadn't thought of (or even knew the name of that piece of the piano -
thanks).
Moving it out of my mother's is pretty straight forward (plenty of room
and a 
straight shot out the door to the trailer (with the ramp resting firmly
on the 
front stoop).  Getting it into my stepdaughter's might be a bit more
tricky but 
not bad.  Luckily no stairs to get in the way on either end after.
Once again, I am truly amazed at the wealth of knowledge on almost every
topic 
that this list demonstrates.  Thanks again everyone!
David
NW NC

Larry D. Goss wrote:
> COG.
> 
> That stands for Center of Gravity.  There's nothing wrong with
> transporting a piano upright.  I've carted grands, uprights, spinets,
> etc, halfway across the country in an upright position or with the
> grands laying on their long side.  But you've got to secure them
against
> rolling or tipping during transit.  It can be done on an open trailer,
> but I much prefer to lay a piano down on its back because it's easier
to
> keep it steady relative to the trailer that way.  Put a 2X4 under the
> top side of it so you can get your fingers under it again to stand it
> upright, wrap it in moving blankets, cover it with tarps if you're
> expecting bad weather, and tie it down with ratchet straps.  Don't use
> bungee cords.  Keep the fall board open.  That's the board that covers
> the keyboard when you're not using the piano.  Some people get all
hyper
> about protecting the keys, but I'd much rather replace keys, ivories,
> and associated parts rather than to refinish the fall board if
something
> happens to it.  You should only need one of those open furniture
dollies
> that they always have on sale at Harbor Freight. Getting the piano
onto
> the dolly is a two or three person job.  One or two people lift one
end
> of the piano high enough in the air so that the third person can push
> the dolly under the middle of the piano.  When you set it down, then
the
> piano will be nicely balanced on the dolly and one person can move it
> from place to place without any real effort.  It's better once again
to
> use three or four -- not because of the effort required, but simply to
> keep from running into furniture, doorways, up steps, etc.  I always
> have a length of cotton rope attached to the dolly so that when it
gets
> stuck on obstacles you can pull it over the irregularity without
sliding
> the piano off into the mud or whatever.
> 
> Always remove the pedal lyre and the legs from grand pianos when you
> move them.  The legs are numbered so you won't get them mixed up.
> Typically, you can remove two large wood screws from the top end of
the
> leg, slide it sideways (toward the center of the piano) to unlatch it
> from its wedge socket, and it will then fall off.  Take off the front
> left leg first.  That's the one under the bass end of the keyboard.
You
> can then let that corner down to the floor and tilt the piano up on
the
> long side before removing the other two legs.  Some grands have a lock
> on the lid so it doesn't fall open, but if not then loop bungee cords
or
> rope around the whole small end of the piano to keep the lid closed. 
> 
> The five foot dimension on your trailer is a little tight for being
able
> to lay the piano down without shifting it on the trailer bed in the
> middle of the operation, but if you have enough manual labor handy, it
> can be done.  If you want to transport it upright, I would recommend
> making a rectangular frame out of dimension lumber that is braced well
> enough so you can lash the piano to it and secure the piano and the
> frame to the trailer.  I used to have a high-cube box van (a Ford
> Courier Mini-Mover that I bought used from U-Haul) that I built a
> removable frame inside of so I could roll an upright into the box, tie
> it to the frame and head down the road.  A "grand skid" is helpful for
> moving grand pianos, too.  All it needs to be is an "L" made out of
> dimension lumber that will support the long side of the piano, is tall
> enough to protect the keyboard, and is wide enough to protect the full
> depth of the piano case.  I had one that we used years ago when we
owned
> a grand piano and were changing residences every three or four years.
I
> didn't bother padding the skid, but used furniture pads on it when
> needed.  When we sold the grand, I sent the skid with it.  The new
owner
> was as happy as a kid at Christmas when I told him he could use the
skid
> and keep it.
> 
> Larry
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of David Bruce
> Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 12:16 PM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] OT - piano
> 
> Since we have such a knowledgeable group on piano subjects I'll pose a
> question.
> My mother has been keeping my stepdaughter's piano for her the last
few
> years. 
> Now that the oldest granddaughter is of piano lesson age it's time to
> move the 
> piano.  I live in NW NC (near ATIS central) and my stepdaughter lives
in
> 
> Charleston, SC.
> The actual moving probably won't be all that difficult (I have a 9x5
> utility 
> trailer that will more than handle carrying the piano) but I was
> wondering if 
> there are any special things I should consider.  The trailer is open
> with a rear 
> gate designed to be a loading ramp .  I was thinking to load the piano
> upright, 
> carefully pad, cover and secure then make the trip.  I have furniture
> dollies 
> available so by using them and the gate/ramp there shouldn't be any
> lifting.
> What am I missing?
> 
> David
> NW NC
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