I like everything in the post except the swivel wheel dolly. I seldom see a serious piano mover use one. The only one I know of in the Bay Area also dead lifts the piano/skid to install the dolly. David Ilvedson, RPT Date sent: Mon, 31 May 1999 18:14:16 -0600 To: pianotech@ptg.org From: "Guy, Karen, and Tor Nichols" <nicho@roadrunner.com> Subject: Re: Tilting on the lyre Send reply to: pianotech@ptg.org > List, > I've watched this thread and been glad to see that most agree that tilting > on the lyre is not always the best way. I have seen joint damage from that > style of tilting, especially in our dry climate, where the joints come > loose anyway. > The following post from Dennis points out the relative importance of skid > contact when the piano's left edge is first lowered. It has also been > mentioned that some lower the piano with the board already on the dolly. > When moving units that have a lot of "miles", the most common damage we see > is a crushed left corner. Polyester pianos have a neat habit of loosing > chunks of finish when the wood changes dimension. > The technique we use does lower the piano with the board on the dolly, and > despite the fact that we don't like to tilt the board up for the dolly, the > biggest advantage IS the fact that when the piano goes down to the board, > the board tips as it takes the weight, bringing the long part of the board > up to meet the long side of the piano. The biggest challenge is that we > prefer all-swivel type dollies, so we lay down a folded blanket to act as > "anti-skate". Not an issue on carpet, but lotsa fun on concrete or tile. It > allows a manual shifting of the long end of the board for precise > placement, and reduces the damage that can result from the inelastic > collision that occurs if the board is on the floor. When raising a piano > from the board, with the board still on the dolly, it's possible to lever > the piano up by pressing down on the tail end of the board, thereby giving > the hoisters a lot of extra help, without much strain. We always use a > three-legged steel prop, with a vertical piece of heavy all-thread that > passes through a large steel nut welded in the center of the top of the > three legs. Adjustable, very strong, and able to be positioned for > stability or overbalance. Also can be used under the keybed of uprights > that are getting leg-work. > Safety first. Right. At least for the hired help....... > > Guy Nichols, RPT > > > At 03:35 PM 5/31/99 -0400, you wrote: > >David: > > > >The Horse IS on the skid board before tilting. The block under the tail end > >of the board is only to insure that the tail of the piano touches the skid > >board before the key end of the piano. Mr. Crail (who is a professional > >piano mover) advised that the front bass edge of pianos frequently are > >damaged when that edge comes down on the board first. The block is removed > >after the piano is on its side and secured. When the piano is removed from > >the skid board, the tail block is not used. > > > >Dennis Hershman > >Hershman Piano Service > > > David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA ilvey@jps.net
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