Lifting upright piano

[Shawn Brock]

John Grace of OLYMPIA Washington was the fellow who taught me to move pianos.  He always used a hand truck to rays  vertical pianos off the ground.  He is a moving master!  Anyone who has taken any classes from him at conventions will tell you that.  The first thing he told me was moving pianos is not rocket science.  I never got a hand truck with an extended blade to use in this fashion, that's because I don't want to do any more moving than I have to.  I have raised pianos with a hand truck and found it to be vary easy.  You have a lot more leverage using this method rather than just the good lift.  Guess I don't see the need to use phone books and other props, just seems like more stuff to get in the way, although a phone book takes up a lot less room in your trunk. 

Shawn Brock, RPT
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Leslie W Bartlett 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:11 PM
  Subject: RE: Lifting upright piano


        You also can just lift, and have the customer put a phone book very near the middle, lift another six inches or so, add another book and you've got your leverage to bring it right on up.
        les bartlett

        --- On Wed, 8/27/08, Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com> wrote:

          From: Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com>
          Subject: RE: Lifting upright piano
          To: "'Pianotech List'" <pianotech at ptg.org>
          Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 9:37 AM


          Make sure you are using good lifting technique. The power comes from your legs, not your arms and shoulders. Start by squatting, then lock your arms, then lift with the legs. After it comes up is when you start using the arms. 



          Also it helps to have someone on the opposite end give a good pull. The piano owner can help with this. Have them get ahold near the top of the piano with a foot against the bottom. Have them jerk their weight back when you say go. 



          Dean

          Dean May              cell 812.239.3359 

          PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

          Terre Haute IN   47802




----------------------------------------------------------------------

          From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of James Johnson
          Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:53 AM
          To: pianotech at ptg.org
          Subject: Lifting upright piano



          I frequently move  console, spinet and studio upright pianos and I have trouble lifting one end of the piano up the first 10 or 12 inches.  Once I get it up where I can regain my purchase, I can easily lift it up the rest of the way to where the dolly will fit under the middle of the piano.  Do any of you know of any type of lever system that would lift the piano that first amount?  It needs to be portable and easy to use.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

          Thanks, Jim Johnson
       
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