<html> At 08:41 PM 07/31/2001 -0500, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>Thanks for the suggestions. I already have my shop setup with 3 8ft tables and my dad's old cheep dining room table for work surface. The shop is just under 600 square feet and currently has the baby grand, 3 old uprights, a console, a spinet, an old wurlitzer spinet organ and a Conn 3 manual theater organ. Not to mention 5 pinball machines.</blockquote> I can see keeping the pinball machines to break the monotony, but the organs have to go. There is no market for them, parts can be even harder to find. For instance, the only used organ which has value is a Hammond B3, all others are scrap. <blockquote type=cite cite>I look at the possiblitiy of heavy shelving though to store the wood parts taken off the pianos for repairs.</blockquote> The keybed from an upright makes a good shelf as does the bottom board and lid. The letoff rail will hold a set of grand dampers, (remove the eye screws and slightly enlarge the holes). A great parts rack idea which I got from Dave Koelzer is to attach two 2x4's to the wall with hinges. Drill for and insert electrical metal conduit into the 2 x's. These can swing out of the way if need be. For a rack which will hold parts during refinishing, cover the metal conduit with pipe insulation. <blockquote type=cite cite>Currently I am marking them with chalk on the underside and stacking them along the walls to keep track of what belongs where. I wish I knew what kind of wood the side boards were made of. I did save the desk, shelf and fall board. I am going to try to build a bench out of them to match one of the old uprights that doesn't have one. I did save every bit of hardware from the piano, the keys (not sure why but they might fit another in the event of a badly chewed or broken key), the pedals and the bass bridge which was in good condition. I also saved the strings even though several broke during removal. I wanted to practice making the loops before begining the work on the baby grand.</blockquote> To identify parts, I prefer to place masking tape in an inconspicuous spot and write with a pen, chalk can have a tendency to become permanent. Building an bench is more costly than buying a cheap one. Same goes for refinishing, unless the matching bench style is not available from a supplier; and used benches will be used with reconditioned pianos. The keys can be used to make plugs for other keys which have had the lead removed for touchweight but I don't expect you to get to that point for a few years yet. As for bass strings: tools can be made from the single wires such as glue applicators, grand hammer lifter-to-string-for-spacing. Cut the hitch pin winding off and cut the string 5 or 6 inches into the winding for a handle. finish the winding end with a file or sander. Now you'll have handy wire-tools, bend a few wires at the end 90 degrees for a hammer lifter and glue applicator for those broken upright jack supports. Don't start saving too much...DAMHIK.  I still have the pedals from old dismantled upright after 25 years, want 'em? The bass bridge will look nice hanging on the wall as a decoration, you'll never use it for anything else besides firewood. <blockquote type=cite cite>I can't begin to say how much I learned from taking that piano apart. I feel very lucky to have a husband who is willing to do most of the work in moving the pianos, tearing them apart and allowing my to use most of the addition he built onto the house to keep them in. He does not play at all but seems to be getting interested in piano tuning and repair. Judy</blockquote> As far as moving goes, look into a trailer as opposed to a truck. Low loading height, lower purchase price, low maintenance.  Get more dollies and pads. Welcome to the world of piano repair, I wish you good fortune in your endeavors. Best Regards, Jon Page,   piano technician Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. <a href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net" eudora="autourl">mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net</a> <a href="http://www.stanwoodpiano.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.stanwoodpiano.com </a>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</html>