<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Hi,David!  Sorry for delay..I would like to answer your question about 4 types of jacks I do have in my possession.<o:p></o:p> 1]In the early days I was using ordinary   Saw  Horses.They work nicely to lift the whole Grand  piano and remove all 3 legs,when nessesary.Great tool for shop!..Also highly recommended for stringers when driving 237 tuning pins ,to relieve stress from legs and not to DAMAGE casters or casters cavity in the leg.Believe me,I had seen plenty of damage done by stringers when this pre-caution was not taken .. I would love to hear from our community of stringers about their technique of protectiong the grand legs when stringing..Also,Leg Plates-female part crack easily during strining process and ,usually,noticed in the field much later,then,typical scenario,Piano Movers are blamed for it….I feel safe leaving piano in the customers home on all 3 Saw Horses then on anything else when all 3 legs go for repair,etc..<o:p></o:p> 2]The piano Horse from Schaff is a great tool for individual leg repairs.Schaff normally sells them in sets of 3,but just owning one makes it a very convenient tool.It folds FLAT and can lay in the trunk of a passenger car or on a back seat of a car,as well,not taking any space at all.<o:p></o:p> 3]Pedestal with a car jack;First I had a car jack with the pump,but,as it was mentioned,leaking accidents can happen.so,pump jack was replaced with Scissors type jack,I have 2 of them:one is GM to work on USA pianos and one from a Nissan car to work on Asian pianos[just kidding]… But,in real life I had to use 2 jacks when Leg bolts were damaged and piano action couldn’t be removed from the Yamaha piano.Propping up piano at the rim allows us to unscrew the Key Bed and get access to the damaged machine bolt and cut it off with a hack saw….<o:p></o:p> 4]Jack-in-the-box was originated by ex-PTG’r Michael Glezin,who worked with me in 1992-1995,very bright mechanically minded tech.He tried to sell this useful tool to techs,then Pacific Piano took over.It’s nicely made tool and later-on Susan Graham had an article in the Journal and this tool was mentioned..<o:p></o:p> 5]Phone books or jacks on piano benches work,providing that piano bench is SOLID and can take the stress.So,before placing books on the bench-check the bench and repair it.In real life:if piano legs have problems,piano bench needs help,too.. Guaranteed! Often,our clients helping us to put phone books on the bench, position them right above our fingers.Precaution must be taken when this technic is used....With the car jack I’m in full control..also,this technic can be used to install caster cups,as well On light pianos I can lift one side of a small Grand with my back and easily install caster cup.…but,I do have a modified crow bar to lift verticals or Grand legs one at a time to install coasters all by myself.This modified crow bar was shown in the moving class by  John Grace,RPT from Olympia,WA many years ago.It works great!!!<o:p></o:p>     Hope,this info helps…..Happy Mothers Day to our Mothers on the List and our spouses and Mothers……..Best Regards.. Isaac Sadigursky,RPT  <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>