[pianotech] Upright Piano Dolly

[Rob McCall]

David,

I had mentioned the larger one to the school, but with tight budgets  
and all, they opted for the smaller ones.

I'll make sure I put them as far to the side as possible.

I have experience with drilling holes for the lag screws in when I was  
making my wife's fancy patio deck cover.  I only broke one bolt on  
that one (the first!) and learned my lesson.

Thanks,

Rob McCall
McCall Piano Service, LLC
Murrieta, CA

rob at mccallpiano.com
www.mccallpiano.com
951-698-1875



On Nov 03, 2009, at 08:36 , David Stocker wrote:

> I have installed more than 50 sets of dollies on uprights, all the  
> larger variety. Larger wheels deal better with thresholds. Most  
> smaller sets I have seen have bent over time so that the castors no  
> longer follow (castor, the verb) properly. Good luck with yours.
>
> Dollies MUST MUST MUST be installed as close to the sides of the  
> piano as possible. Many piano bottom boards and toe (or pedal) rails  
> will warp if they are not installed towards the outside. I have seen  
> several pianos with dollies installed by a local store where the  
> back of the keybed has been forced up enough to cause severe  
> regulation problems.
>
> When installing the larger dollies, if there is a toe I will drill  
> through the side of the dolly into the toe and insert a lag screw.  
> This prevents the dolly from pushing up on the toe rail, and keeps  
> the piano from rocking. (Ooooo, you have damaged the finish! Oh,  
> yeah? This school piano is going to be beat on for sixty years and  
> then be surplused for fifty bucks. I will opt for the solid feeling  
> piano.)
>
> Drill your holes for the lag screws carefully, they are a soft metal  
> and will break off if the hole is not big enough. Argh! Ask me how I  
> know this!
>
> David Stocker, RPT
> Tumwater, WA