Room-to-room grand piano move

[Frank Weston]

Carl,

I would get a skid, or at least a long sturdy board.  The piano will be
much easier to tilt, and there will be less chance of damage.

If you choose not to use a skid, tip the piano on its side with pads under
it.  Make sure there is sufficient padding at the keyboard end.  There is
no need to remove the lid if you have a skid, but without a skid, it may be
hard to get a grip on the piano to lift. If you think there will be a
problem, remove the lid. Get one strong person to lift the piano from the
tail (lifting from the keyboard end is asking for a hernia and/or a dropped
piano), one person to slide the dolly under the piano, and one person to
stand at the keyboard end and guard against sliding and tipping.  Position
the dolly about 1/3 the length of the piano from the keyboard end, hold it
flat against the piano while the piano is tilted, then lower the piano onto
the dolly.

Roll the piano where you want it to go.  The most frequent cause of damage
is tilting while on the dolly.  Seems like it shouldn't happen, but it
does.  Pay attention.  At your destination, reverse the process.  

A move such as you have described should be simple for two experienced
persons, one strong enough to lift the tail.  Three people may be more than
you need, but if you haven't done much moving, the extra strength and
security provided by the third person will be helpful.

Frank Weston



----------
> From: Carl Root <rootfamily@erols.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Room-to-room grand piano move
> Date: Sunday, January 10, 1999 10:38 AM
> 
> I have been asked to take charge of move of an older Baldwin 'R' from
> the lobby of a nursing home down the hall back to the activities room. 
> They called me because they can't find a mover who can get to it, and I
> put the piano on its' side and repaired a damaged leg plate that the
> last movers ignored prior to my last visit.  
> 
> There are no steps.  I have a dolly and plenty of help.  I do not have a
> skid, so the step that involves getting the dolly under the piano once
> the lid's been removed is the part that makes my a bit nervous.  I
> thought of making  some sort of support block that was the same height
> as the dolly and placing it under the bass end side.  Is there a good
> way to immoblize the dolly?   
> 
> I couldn't find anything useful in the archives.
> 
> Carl Root, RPT