[pianotech] Upright Tilter

[James Johnson]

I have one of the models that folds in the middle and is very easy to move 
about.  The one thing that I don't like is that when it is assembled, it 
isn't nearly as tall an the ones that only fold lengthwise.  This makes them 
more difficult to use on a large upright because you don't have as much 
leverage because the handle is so much lower.  My shop tilter is much easier 
to use but not very portable.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Helms, RPT" <tuner at helmsmusic.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 8:33 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Upright Tilter


>I had a similar mishap years ago with my tilter on a school piano. The
> original casters had been replaced with a large-wheeled truck that was
> bolted to the piano. I guess I was young & stupid (well, at least stupid),
> because I didn't forsee the danger and didn't strap the tilter to the
> piano. I was lowering the piano back down, and the second the back wheels
> hit the floor, they rolled out away from the tilter, and the top back edge
> of the piano slid all the way down to the bottom of the tilter, where it
> caught the forks like stepping on a rake. WHAP! The tilter flew up and hit
> me square in the cheekbone. Of course the piano was making this horrible
> racket, and I was seeing stars (literally). My guardian angel was working
> overtime, because I suffered nothing more than a nasty purple bruise on my
> face - nothing broken. But boy, did I learn my lesson! I keep my ratchet
> straps tied to the tilter at all times now, so that I NEVER forget to use
> them - they are now a part of the tool. How much more effort does it take
> to throw a strap on the thing? Even if the original casters are frozen and
> I'm on shag carpet, I will still use a strap. If nothing else, it gives me
> a LOT more peace of mind.
>
> I would love to find one of the models that folds in the middle too; mine
> is from Schaff about 10 years ago, and it's about 4' long when it's
> folded. Not real easy to throw in the trunk. Does anybody know who sells
> one of the middle-folding ones?
> -- 
> Scott A. Helms, Registered Piano Technician
> www.helmsmusic.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 12:43 AM, James Johnson
>> <jhjpiano at sbcglobal.net>wrote:
>>
>> I find my tilter indispensable.  I have one that folds up and is fairly
>> easy
>>> to carry.  One word of warning.  Be sure you keep the forks solidly
>>> biting
>>> into the bottom of the piano as you set it back into the upright
>>> position. I
>>> get the piano up to the position that the rear casters just begin to
>>> touch
>>> the floor, then I push the top of the piano away from the tilter while
>>> pulling the puller towards me, keeping the forks supporting most of the
>>> weight until the front casters touch the floor.
>>
>>
>>
>> Isn't that pretty intuitive in the use of a tilter? I've used my tilter
>> maybe some 10+ times, and have always HAD to do this, just by being
>> careful
>> when tipping it up.  If one goes slow, it seems this is an automatic 
>> thing
>> rather than something you have to focus on intentionally.
>>
>> Or maybe there are different tilters???  Mine came from Schaff some 7 or
>> so
>> years ago.  Were older ones different, requiring straps of some sort?
>>
>>
>>
>>>  Years ago, a good friend of mine didn't follow this procedure and when
>>> the
>>> rear casters contacted the floor, the piano rolled forward off the
>>> tilter
>>> and came crashing down, crushing several bones in his leg.  He missed
>>> about
>>> 6 months work because of this little mishap.  Needless to say, since his
>>> accident I have been extra careful.  A strap around the top of the piano
>>> tying it to the tilter, as well as one around the bottom, would be a
>>> real
>>> good idea.  It is the bottom of the piano coming off the tilter and
>>> rolling
>>> on the rear casters that is so dangerous.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Scary to think about, and I've read about this in the past.  And I've
>> always
>> been extra careful when using my tilter.  But nothing like this even 
>> comes
>> close to happening with mine.  Never have used straps around anything, 
>> but
>> perhaps ought to.
>>
>>
>> --
>> JF
>>
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