<HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-= 1"> <META content="IncrediMail 1.0" name=GENERATOR>  </HEAD> <BODY style="BACKGROUND-POSITION: 0px 0px; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 5px= 10px 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bgColor=#ffffff background="" scroll== yes ORGYPOS="0"> <TABLE id=INCREDIMAINTABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100= %" border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD id=INCREDITEXTREGION style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; CURSOR: auto; FONT-F= AMILY: Arial" width="100%"> <DIV> I use one of these lifts for another application, and find tha= t they are fast!! (33 feet per minute)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you use it in it's present configuration it will lift that plate = 6.6 inches PER second.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Be ready for a fast exit of the plate from the piano.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You can half the speed by using the return shackle.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Robin Stevens</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV id=IncrediOriginalMessage><I>-------Original Message-------</I></D= IV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV id=receivestrings> <DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>From:</B></I> <A href="m= ailto:staff@smithpiano.com">staff@smithpiano.com</A>; <A href="mailto:p= ianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>Date:</B></I> 12/09/04 22:= 12:29</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>To:</B></I> <A href="mai= lto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech'</A></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>Subject:</B></I> RE: Pulli= ng Plates</DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hi All,</DIV> <DIV>How timely, I am building a beam/shelf today which will hold my hois= t.</DIV> <DIV>Same one Tom Cole linked to:</DIV> <DIV>  <A href="http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.= taf?itemnumber=44006">http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem= .taf?itemnumber=44006</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, after seeing Christian Bolduc's cool plate puller clamp, (Pian= otek</DIV> <DIV>Catalog, pg D-35 part #B-GP32) I dispensed with the strap system.</D= IV> <DIV>Engine hoist with hand crank and straps does work of course. But, th= is</DIV> <DIV>system saves time and will help prevent plate 'dings' on the inner r= im</DIV> <DIV>as it goes in and out several times.  Anything to simplify= the process.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Speaking of the inner rim...</DIV> <DIV>Does anyone have a reuseable system for protecting rim and stretcher= </DIV> <DIV>during rebuilding?</DIV> <DIV>I envision pieces of leather & sturdy cardboard, in sections tha= t will</DIV> <DIV>accommodate different piano rims.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best regards,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Brad Smith, RPT</DIV> <DIV>Smith Piano Services</DIV> <DIV>800-964-TUNE (8863) Toll Free</DIV> <DIV>603-625-4696 in New Hampshire</DIV> <DIV>483 Donald Street</DIV> <DIV>Bedford, NH 03110</DIV> <DIV><A href="mailto:brad@smithpiano.com">brad@smithpiano.com</A></DIV> <DIV>NEW!! 24/7 Online Appointment Scheduling</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.smithpiano.com">www.smithpiano.com</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-----Original Message-----</DIV> <DIV>From: Terry [<A href="mailto:terry@farrellpiano.com">mailto:terry@= farrellpiano.com</A>]</DIV> <DIV>Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 6:25 AM</DIV> <DIV>To: Pianotech</DIV> <DIV>Subject: Re: Pulling Plates</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You know, now that you mention it, after I had the plate refinished,= I</DIV> <DIV>would first wrap an old (clean) rag around the strut first, and then= </DIV> <DIV>wrap the nylon strap around that. Oops, scrap the nylon thing - I se= e</DIV> <DIV>now they are polyester (I'm looking at one). They are 1-inch wide an= d</DIV> <DIV>4-feet long. They have a vertical capacity of 1,600 lbs. They have b= ig</DIV> <DIV>loops at each end. I purchased them at Wholesale Tool</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.wttool.com/">http://www.wttool.com/</A> .</DIV= > <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Originally, I used three of these straps only and hooked them into m= y</DIV> <DIV>ceiling-mounted chain-fall. I would have to manually try to adjust t= heir</DIV> <DIV>positions to get an even lift - very less than optimal. After pickin= g up</DIV> <DIV>some ideas from this list, I am now using two adjustable straps betw= een</DIV> <DIV>the polyester strap on the plate and the hook of the chain-fall (I u= se</DIV> <DIV>the adjustable thing on the two front straps and simply run the rear= </DIV> <DIV>strap full-length directly from the plate to the chain-fall hook - n= o</DIV> <DIV>adjustment). The adjustable straps I am using are rather light-duty = (I</DIV> <DIV>seem to recall a breaking strength of around 400 lbs. - arguably</DI= V> <DIV>somewhat marginal strength) and do not have a ratchet, but rather a<= /DIV> <DIV>simply thumb-controlled hold-clamp-apparatus (it's actually a thinge= e) -</DIV> <DIV>it has never slipped (yeah, I know what you are thinking - me too!).= </DIV> <DIV>Very quick to adjust and easily get a nice even lift. When I see</DI= V> <DIV>something similar, but with higher breaking strength, in a tool stor= e, I</DIV> <DIV>will pick those up and switch to something with a greater weight rat= ing.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If anyone wishes for a picture, I would be happy to take one and sen= d it</DIV> <DIV>your way. I've got a plate hanging in mid-air as we speak!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.farrellpiano.com">www.farrellpiano.com</A></DI= V> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message -----</DIV> <DIV>From: "John Musselwhite" <<A href="mailto:john@musselwhite.com"= >john@musselwhite.com</A>></DIV> <DIV>To: "Pianotech" <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@p= tg.org</A>></DIV> <DIV>Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 1:15 AM</DIV> <DIV>Subject: RE: Pulling Plates</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> At 11:19 PM 12/08/04 -0500, Chuck wrote:</DIV> <DIV>></DIV> <DIV>> >I've been wrapping a thick, soft, nylon strap around struts= , capo,</DIV> <DIV>> >etc. for lifting.</DIV> <DIV>> ></DIV> <DIV>> ></DIV> <DIV>> >Where you find this kind of strap Terry? How thick, how wid= e?</DIV> <DIV>></DIV> <DIV>> One suggestion might be used auto seat belts since you can prob= ably</DIV> <DIV>> get them for free. I'd still pad them around the plate though. = If you</DIV> <DIV>> don't trust the quick release you could always sew D-rings or</= DIV> <DIV>> something into</DIV> <DIV>them.</DIV> <DIV>></DIV> <DIV>> As for something other than a rafter or engine hoist to hang yo= ur seat</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> belts (and chain fall) from to lift out the plate, has anyone e= ver</DIV> <DIV>> tried using a modified child's outdoor swing set?  Yo= u could probably</DIV> <DIV>> pick up a well-built old one for next-to-nothing and if you cle= aned it</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> up, added</DIV> <DIV>some</DIV> <DIV>> decent bolts and cut the cross-tube down to the width of a pian= o it</DIV> <DIV>> should be plenty strong enough for a plate. If you needed to yo= u could</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> even</DIV> <DIV>sister</DIV> <DIV>> a couple of 2x4s to reinforce the crossbar and add blocks under= the</DIV> <DIV>> legs</DIV> <DIV>if</DIV> <DIV>> it isn't high enough.</DIV> <DIV>></DIV> <DIV>>          &nbs= p;       John</DIV> <DIV>></DIV> <DIV>> John Musselwhite, RPT    -  &nbsp= ;  Calgary, Alberta Canada</DIV> <DIV>> <A href="http://www.musselwhite.com">http://www.musselwhite.c= om</A>  <A href="http://canadianpianopage.com/calgary">http:/= /canadianpianopage.com/calgary</A></DIV> <DIV>> Pianotech IRC chats Tuesday and Thursday nights and Sunday Morn= ings</DIV> <DIV>> <A href="http://www.bigfoot.com/~kmvander/ircpiano.html">http= ://www.bigfoot.com/~kmvander/ircpiano.html</A></DIV> <DIV>></DIV> <DIV>></DIV> <DIV>> _______________________________________________</DIV> <DIV>> pianotech list info: <A href="http://www.ptg.org/mailman/list= info/pianotech">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>_______________________________________________</DIV> <DIV>pianotech list info: <A href="http://www.ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/= pianotech">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>_______________________________________________</DIV> <DIV>pianotech list info: <A href="http://www.ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/= pianotech">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A></DIV></TD></= TR> <TR> <TD id=INCREDIFOOTER width="100%"> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"> <TBODY> <TR> <TD width="100%"></TD> <TD id=INCREDISOUND vAlign=bottom align=middle></TD> <TD id=INCREDIANIM vAlign=bottom align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></T= ABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></BODY></HTML>