<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16414" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>Colleagues -</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Having set up eight shops over my 40-years in this business, I'd like to weigh in on the topic.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>(1)  There is no substitute for a trolley on an I-beam.  Extremely valuable to be able to move a plate in at least one dimension other than the vertical.  And something permanently mounted overhead is preferable to something sitting on the floor where it's in the way as often as not.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>(2)  I like a hand-operated chain fall better than motor driven hoists.  It's a bit more work that way, but very controllable.  All the power hoists I've seen (and the few I've used) start and stop with annoying jerks (not speaking here of the operator!).  Also the manual equipment is much less expensive than the power stuff.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>(3)  The smallest size of standard I-beam is plenty for picking up whole concert grands.  And the smaller it is, the higher the trolley will be.  That gives greater hoisting space.  Unless you have 8 feet or more headroom in the shop, you will need every single vertical inch.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>(4)  I've been using half-ton rated gear for decades.  That's enough to lift most concert grands.  If lifting whole Boesendorfer Imperials, M&H CCs, etc. will be a large part of your work you might opt for one-ton.  (But even cheap half-ton stuff will stand occasional overloads in that range.)  Again, larger gear costs more, and importantly, takes up greater vertical space, thus limiting your lifting range.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>(5)  I am fond of my 'differential chain hoist'.  They are now obsolete due to some OSHA considerations.  I don't think you'll find one available new in North America.  But don't pass it up if you see one at a farm auction!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best regards,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">~ Tom McNeil ~<BR>Vermont Piano Restorations<BR>VermontPiano.com<BR><BR>346 Camp Street<BR>Barre, VT 05641<BR>(802) 476-7072</FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's free at <A title="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>