This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hi Terry, Please send me a private post so I can send you a message. Tried to use = your address in the journal. Joe Goss RPT Mother Goose Tools imatunr@srvinet.com www.mothergoosetools.com ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Terry=20 To: Pianotech=20 Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 3:05 PM Subject: Re: Pulling Plates I've been wrapping a thick, soft, nylon strap around struts, capo, = etc. for lifting. Haven't had it disturb new paint (knock on maple rim). Terry Farrell ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Greg Newell=20 To: Pianotech=20 Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:55 PM Subject: Re: Pulling Plates List, Yesterday I encountered a 1960's or so Baldwin "D" which had = one of it's plate struts looking rather thin. It seemed to me to be a = potential weak spot. I haven't had the opportunity yet to pull a plate = from an instrument that large but this particular one just might = experience my ministrations sometime in the future. Are there any = special things to consider when pulling plates this large? So far a = "cherry picker" has worked just fine on pianos under 6'. As the pianos = go larger the plate gets a bit harder to balance and support properly. I = have an air hoist motor that needs rebuilding and some box steel that I = could use to make a frame for it. That should cover the lifting part of = the job but what about the support? Do you simply double up on the = straps or other support means? BTW, some time ago I promised a report on my experience with = the Buldoc grand plate puller. Since my shop isn't all that busy (too = many tunings) I waited until I had the chance to use it a few times. My = advice is don't waste your money. The top bar is weak and bends rather = easily which could allow the plate to slide if it became unbalanced. = That could be disastrous. While I've only pulled a few plates to date I = found that it was difficult to find the proper location of the plate to = attach it to. I could get close and then the directions are to tap it = around to get to the balance point but it always seems to have been too = close to the bolts on either end. Tapping it, in one case, left some = marks on the freshly painted plate which did not make my day either. I = believe that I will continue to use it until something about it just = irritates me beyond reason but I wish it worked better than it does.=20 Has anyone ever tried putting some kind of bar stock through = the plate holes and then attaching a strap to that? When using the = straps I don't really like the fact that the strap hook comes in contact = with the painted surface. Actually I'd rather that the strap material = didn't either. Sure would love to see some pics on how others do this. = Each one I pull leaves me scratching my head trying to noodle out a = better way. Help me out folks my hairs getting thin enough as it is!! =20 Best, Greg Newell =20 At 02:24 AM 12/8/2004, you wrote: R.Cromwell said: "While I am familiar with using a hoist attached = to steel rafters as one method of removing a plate from a grand piano, has anyone tried = using an engine crane to achieve the same goal? Is it feasible or am I = crazy - or both? =20 Gazing doubtfully at a poorly supported ancient wooden rafter," R.C., I've used a "cherry picker", (the collapsible type), a couple of = times, when doing work in another techs shop that didn't have a winch, = etc. Worked just fine. They can be rented and are not that difficult to = use/set up. Best Regards, Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain, Tool Police Squares R I Greg Newell Greg's piano Fort=E9 mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net=20 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/95/c8/9d/ab/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC