[pianotech] Grand Piano Truck instalation, attn: Will Truitt

[John Dorr]

Will,

I have some questions about your method posted below.  Some things are not 
quite clear to me, so my mind's eye is not getting the whole picture.

1.  Wood dimensions:  12" x 12"... what's the other dimension?
2.  The blocks are for what then?  To protect the floor?
3.  Where exactly are the jacks placed?
4.  Are you lifting on the rim or the keybed or the beams?
5.  What kinds of jacks?  Bottle jacks?  or Scissors jacks?

Your post is below.

Thanks,
John Dorr
Helena, MT

Sender: "Will Truitt" <surfdog at metrocast.net>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Grand Piano Truck instalation
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:06:13 -0500
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>

Hi Paul:

  

I posted a reply some time ago about a method of installing a piano truck, but 
since the archives are incognito, I will do my best to give my answer again.

  

I use three car jacks and 3 large blocks of wood, roughly 12” x 12” pieces 
gotten from ye local lumbar supplier.  I already had these, because I use them 
to set the piano on in the shop when I am stringing or doing damper work, to 
make it easier for my back.

  

I already had the one jack from my car, and went to the local auto parts store 
and bought two more for $20 a pop.  They are each rated for 3500 lbs.

So they are more than adequate for even the Baldwin 9’ SD-10 that I was 
putting the piano truck on at the church.  I didn’t want to enlist the 
services of the 80 year old janitor, or hire my piano movers for $200 or so.

  

Quite simply, you position the 3 blocks on the floor, set the jacks on them 
with additional shim blocks if needed, and slowly scissor the piano up to a 
sufficient height.  You can go back and forth to maintain a reasonable level 
until you are at sufficient height.  It took me all of 20 minutes to position 
the blocks and jack the piano up.  I needed to remove the legs to do other 
work on them.  I took all three back to the shop and left the piano sitting on 
the jacks overnight.  Came back the next day, installed them without the 
concert double casters.  I set up the truck, working to position the three 
plates under the legs.  What is really nice is that I was able to slowly and 
evenly lower the legs to where they were almost weight loading the truck 
plates, do final micro-positioning, and then tighten everything up.  Then 
final lower the piano until it was fully on the truck, again going back and 
forth to bring it down evenly.

  

All this with absolutely no stress or risk to anyone, including me.  It’s very 
safe and easy, and you don’t have to use movers.  Best $40 bucks I ever spent.

  

Will Truitt