It's a simple bar which spans and then clamps onto a couple of the plate struts and can be easily slid back and forth or side to side to find the point of equilibrium. It has a place to fasten a large hook from the hoist. I was a bit paranoid about it's overall strength and balance at first and, admittedly, don't have a way to assess it's failure point. I'm operating on faith but it is very easy to use and take in and out with dealing with straps. I have not lifted a "D" plate with it. I'd be curious if any engineer types are familiar with this and have any comments about what kind of load it will take, concerns or otherwise. I am assuming that Bolduc had it engineered when he offered it for sale to the general public. David Love davidlovepianos@earthlink.net > [Original Message] > From: gordon stelter <lclgcnp@yahoo.com> > To: <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>; Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> > Date: 6/26/2004 12:07:21 PM > Subject: RE: Plate suspension > > Please describe, David, > I have been extremely happy with the 3-point > ratchet strap method ( I have lifted a concert grand > plate with three of the 1,500-pound-test variety ) and > a chain hoist. I like this method because clicking > the ratchets allows very easy incremental adjustment > of the plate's attitude. My only cautionary note is > that some unscrupulous stores sell "el-cheapo" ratchet > straps, whose mechanisms are stamped out of > tin-can-thin steel, and obviously not up to the task! > Beware !!! > If in doubt, please buy the designated heavy-duty > variety! > Thump > > P.S. To protect rims I like scraps of Naugahyde(TM), > or generic equivalent, available from fabric stores. > Anyone have a better idea? > > the --- David Love <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net> > wrote: > > An portable pneumatic engine hoist and Balduc's > > plate suspension bar are > > quick and easy, no ropes, no straps. > > > > David Love > > davidlovepianos@earthlink.net > > > > > > > [Original Message] > > > From: Greg Newell <gnewell@ameritech.net> > > > To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> > > > Date: 6/25/2004 1:31:41 PM > > > Subject: Plate suspension > > > > > > Greetings list members, > > > I've been dissatisfied with the rope > > system I've been using to > > > hoist plates and have been thinking of changing to > > something else for > > this > > > purpose. I was wondering what the collective > > experience and intelligence > > > out there could share. In the past I have used > > ropes judiciously placed > > at > > > three points on the plate and tensioned as evenly > > as I could before the > > > hoist ( engine cherry picker) was engaged. While > > I'm not terribly fond of > > > the engine cherry picker since it lifts in a > > slight arc it will have to > > do > > > until I get the air hoist motor rebuilt and some > > strong frame to hang it > > > from. That however is not my present concern. My > > issue lies with the > > ropes. > > > It seems that they dig in just a bit and can cause > > some minor chipping. > > > I've thought of purchasing the Buldoc plate puller > > from Pianotek but was > > > even thinking of something a little more simple, > > like web straps that the > > > movers use but with "D" rings sewn into each end. > > The straps could be > > only > > > a couple of feet long and since they are 2" wide > > they would provide > > plenty > > > of support without digging in. Has anyone tried > > this before? Are there > > any > > > other ideas out there for replacement of the > > ropes? > > > Thanks for sharing. > > > Greg > > > > > > Greg Newell > > > Greg's piano Fort? > > > mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > pianotech list info: > > https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pianotech list info: > > https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out! > http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail David Love davidlovepianos@earthlink.net
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