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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've been wrapping a thick, soft, nylon =
strap
around struts, capo, etc. for lifting. Haven't had it disturb new paint =
(knock
on maple rim).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=gnewell@ameritech.net =
href="mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net">Greg
Newell</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, December 08, =
2004 4:55
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Pulling =
Plates</DIV>
=
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR>List,<BR><X-TAB> &n=
bsp; </X-TAB>Yesterday
I encountered a 1960's or so Baldwin "D" which had one of it's plate =
struts
looking rather thin. It seemed to me to be a potential weak spot. I =
haven't
had the opportunity yet to pull a plate from an instrument that large =
but this
particular one just might experience my ministrations sometime in the =
future.
Are there any special things to consider when pulling plates this =
large? So
far a "cherry picker" has worked just fine on pianos under 6'. As the =
pianos
go larger the plate gets a bit harder to balance and support properly. =
I have
an air hoist motor that needs rebuilding and some box steel that I =
could use
to make a frame for it. That should cover the lifting part of the job =
but what
about the support? Do you simply double up on the straps or other =
support
=
means?<BR><X-TAB> </X-TAB>=
BTW,
some time ago I promised a report on my experience with the Buldoc =
grand plate
puller. Since my shop isn't all that busy (too many tunings) I waited =
until I
had the chance to use it a few times. My advice is don't waste your =
money. The
top bar is weak and bends rather easily which could allow the plate to =
slide
if it became unbalanced. That could be disastrous. While I've only =
pulled a
few plates to date I found that it was difficult to find the proper =
location
of the plate to attach it to. I could get close and then the =
directions are to
tap it around to get to the balance point but it always seems to have =
been too
close to the bolts on either end. Tapping it, in one case, left some =
marks on
the freshly painted plate which did not make my day either. I believe =
that I
will continue to use it until something about it just irritates me =
beyond
reason but I wish it worked better than it does.
<BR><X-TAB> </X-TAB>Has =
anyone
ever tried putting some kind of bar stock through the plate holes and =
then
attaching a strap to that? When using the straps I don't really like =
the fact
that the strap hook comes in contact with the painted surface. =
Actually I'd
rather that the strap material didn't either. Sure would love to see =
some pics
on how others do this. Each one I pull leaves me scratching my head =
trying to
noodle out a better way. Help me out folks my hairs getting thin =
enough as it
is!!<BR> <BR>Best,<BR>Greg Newell<BR> <BR><BR><BR>At 02:24 =
AM
12/8/2004, you wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=arial
size=2>R.Cromwell said: "</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman, =
Times">While I
am familiar with using a hoist attached to steel rafters as =
one<BR>method of
removing a plate from a grand piano, has anyone tried using =
an<BR>engine
crane to achieve the same goal? Is it feasible or am I crazy - =
or<BR>both?<BR><BR> <BR><BR>Gazing doubtfully at a poorly =
supported
ancient wooden rafter,"</FONT><FONT face=arial =
size=2><BR><BR>R.C.,<BR>I've
used a "cherry picker", (the collapsible type), a couple of times, =
when
doing work in another techs shop that didn't have a winch, etc. =
Worked just
fine. They can be rented and are not that difficult to use/set =
up.<BR>Best
Regards,<BR>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares R =
I</BLOCKQUOTE><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP>Greg Newell<BR>Greg's piano Forté<BR><A
href="mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net"
eudora="autourl">mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net</A></FONT>
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