<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Re: Shipping piano</title></head><body> <div>David and list,</div> <div><br></div> <div>David wrote;</div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font size="-1">I will be shipping a Steinway M across country in the next week or so.  I am considering locking the action as most manufacturers do with a strip of wood across the shanks tied to the action brackets.  Anything else I should be thinking of?</font></blockquote> <div><br></div> <div>In addition to tieing the hammer shanks to the rail, it is good practice to pad the case parts to prevent surface finish damage. We repair many grand pianos each year which have been damaged in transit, when much of it could have been avoided with adequate packing.</div> <div><br></div> <div>* If you will be leaving the lid on, place check felt strips adjacent to the lid buffers (select a felt thickness which is just taller that the lid buffers). If you don't, and the piano is tied down with considerable force, the lid buffers may scuff the rim and the buffers may be also be deformed. Don't forget to felt adjacent to the lock rail buffers also. Furthermore, if you are planning to leave the lid on, instruct the carrying company on the necessity of placing some spacer material under the rim if it is to be tied on its edge in the truck, to avoid damaging the top lid. While a many carrying companies will assure you that they know what they doing, when it comes to grand pianos, many haven't got a clue.</div> <div><br></div> <div>* If the piano will be shipped with the lid off, remove the hinges from the rim to avoid repairing them later.</div> <div><br></div> <div>* The lid prop is prone to bouncing around. Tie it to the plate strut with a cotton sash.</div> <div><br></div> <div>* The music rest is prone to swinging up and scuffing the finish under the top lid. Attach a felt strip across the top-center edge of the music rest.</div> <div><br></div> <div>*The fall board should be taped closed (with a small felt strip between it and the key slip at each end - name board felt will do). Alternatively, small felt pieces, sized to afford a moderate interference fit between the ends of the fall and the cheeks, could be placed at the ends of the fall as it is closed, to hold it firmly shut.</div> <div><br></div> <div>* As a final measure to prevent possible damage to the lid lock, should the main body of the lid swing open while the piano is on the moving trolly, tie the larger section of the lid to the rim with a woven cotton sash around the body of the piano.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Hope this helps,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Ron O</div> <div><br></div> <div>-- <br> <br> _________________________<br> <br> Website:  http://www.overspianos.com.au<br> Email:      mailto:ron@overspianos.com.au<br> _________________________</div> </body> </html>