<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Jim,<DIV>I apologize if my rebuttal didn't come across as tongue-in-cheek as I intended. I think you misunderstood my joke -- I teased that you guys had redneckophobia -- the fear of being associated with or being accused of possibly doing something "redneck". It was not a personal slam on you -- but me. I, being a Southerner, am accustomed to folks from all other parts of the country being of the conviction that all southerners are ignorant rednecks, and our ideas wreak of ignorance.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Yes, blocks will fail if used improperly, and the failures you speak of are a result of improper use. I have never heard of one failing when turned the correct way. And as I described, using a wood block between the concrete block and the jack, will be no different than the way the blocks are used as supports for the millions of mobile homes they support. You will be much more likely to fracture the block transporting it to and from your car.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Yes, if you are careless with them, they can fail. That is common sense. But used properly they are a very useful and inexpensive tool.</DIV><DIV>Jeff</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV> <DIV><DIV>On May 30, 2006, at 1:15 PM, Jim Busby wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"><DIV class="Section1">Hi Jeff,<O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P><O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </O:P>Blocks used in construction by code usually have rebar placed through them and are filled with concrete. If you did that I would use them. I don’t mean to get into a pissing contest here but even a diamond that is hit at the right place with a very slight blow will fracture.<O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P><O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </O:P>I used to make blocks for a living as a young college student and heard many stories of cars falling on people who thought they were safe for such use. Call any manufacturer of them and they should tell you not to use them in this way. Just hit them or apply pressure (in any orientation) and they MAY fracture. They may not, but if even one falls with a car (or a piano) that is too many. Hence the “redneck” point I made.<O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P><O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </O:P>You seem to be a good technician and such personal slams (redneck?!) at what may be valid criticisms are uncalled for. I agreed with Ed and tried to use some humor to make a point. Sorry if you didn’t take it as such. Go ahead and use blocks to your hearts content, but it MAY fracture, and over time with enough repeated stress probably will. Wood blocks won’t, ever. No personal slam to you Jeff. Chill out, and please check this out before recommending it to others.<O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P><O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </O:P>Regards,<O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P>Jim Busby<O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P>AKA redneck, hatemonger, fill in the blank…<O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P>(Just kidding! Geeze..)<O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P><O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </O:P><DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><HR size="2" width="100%" align="center" tabindex="-1"></DIV>From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [<A href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org">mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org</A>] On Behalf Of Jeff Tanner Sent: Monday, May 29, 2006 9:03 AM To: <ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on"><A href="mailto:ed440@mindspring.com">ed440@mindspring.com</A></ST1:PERSONNAME>; <ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on">College and University Technicians</ST1:PERSONNAME> Subject: Re: [CAUT] DANGEROUS technique for getting pianos on the colson dolly<O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></DIV><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </O:P><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </O:P><DIV><DIV>On May 26, 2006, at 4:59 PM, <A href="mailto:ed440@mindspring.com">ed440@mindspring.com</A> wrote:<O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></DIV> <O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P><DIV style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; ">Concrete blocks/cinder blocks can fracture and crumble!<O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></DIV><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </O:P></DIV><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </O:P><DIV>And yet, your house is sitting on them.<O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></DIV><DIV><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </O:P></DIV><DIV>They only fracture and crumble when used incorrectly.<O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></DIV><DIV><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </O:P></DIV><DIV>Jeff<O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></DIV></DIV></O:SMARTTAGTYPE> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>