<html> <body> Rob, When I first got here, I talked to my boss & he agreed that we shouldn't use students to move pianos, especially grands, because of liability issues (state univ. are self-insured). So for 13 yrs., I've been using professional piano movers. So far, so good! No back problems, either. And I'm now 66. :-)  I'll help move a harpsichord with student help (usually a work study from the office) and VERY occasionally a vertical. But that's about it. Maybe I'm just lucky? Avery Todd University of Houston At 11:31 AM 2/22/2006, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> Hello, Typically I stay in the back ground and just observe the list but I have worthy inquiry.  I am the staff tech at UNLV, (University of Nevada, Las Vegas).  We have +/-65 pianos and occasionally a few must be moved around.  I have one grand and one upright that I keep aside for when someone needs one for special events.  The upright has a permanent heavy truck on it for moving around.  For grands I use a method that involves tilting the piano up onto the skid while it's already on the dolly.  The dolly is custom made with extra large hard wheels.  Two of the wheels do not swivel so that it doesn't skip out while lifting.  If it is a reasonably small grand, (nothing larger than a C-3), then it is surprisingly simple.  I'm sure there are others who do this.  Anyway to the point.     After lifting and moving pianos for years my back has just about had it.  Every so often it slips out of place and I find myself in pain for several days.  Recently I was required to move several pianos in a day and it just about did me in.  This morning I found myself stiff and unable to crawl out of bed.  The reality is that I can't continue doing this.  At age 40 I have a long way to go and I don't fancy ruining my back for the likes of ungrateful university staff.   I would like to know what other university techs have done regarding piano moves.  Because of liability reasons they are not too enthusiastic about getting students to do it.  The facilities management people are not reliable and can't be trusted to show up on time.  The Faculty is certainly not interested in getting their hands dirty.  I have occasionally called in another outside tech but that is not always possible.  Unfortunately my Jedi skills aren't mastered well enough to move pianos using "The Force".  So... what do YOU do?   Rob Goodale, RPT Las Vegas, NV</blockquote></body> </html>