<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=rol= e_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Hazen,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I moved pianos for 15 years or so.  If the job was entirely on one= level, like a room to room job, I would often do it without a skid.  It= 's faster, for sure.  The skid adds a few brief minutes but protects again= st many kinds of damage to the case.  IF I was housing them in the shop li= ke Terry--or if I lived in Florida, like Terry, where there's only one step in = the entire state--I probably wouldn't even own a skidboard....:-)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Seriously, though, it's an okay technique, but limited in what you can accomplish with it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Good luck in your new business endeavor!<BR></DIV> <DIV>Dave Stahl</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 2/2/2006 5:09:18 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size= =2>That is exactly how my mover does it. Never had a problem/damage. He is <BR>simply= careful to hang the lid over the edge of the dolly. I have several <BR>gra= nds in my shop right now on their sides on dollies without skidboards.<BR><BR>Terry Farrell<BR><BR>> Hi Hazen,<BR>> The primary= advantage of a skidboard that I can see is the fact that it<BR>> protec= ts the edge of the piano cover (or rather the cover hinges) from<BR>> bear= ing the weight of the piano as it stands on its side. I've seen many<BR>> pianos that had had their rim split wide open where the hinge screws had<BR>> been after having been hauled by refrigerator carting specialists.<BR>><BR>> It seems to me that an experienced crew shoul= d be able to tip the piano<BR>> directly onto the dolly with the edge of the= lid hanging free next to the<BR>> dolly and with the entire weight of the instrument resting squarely on the<BR>> rim. That is how I have always = done it when moving a grand. All that's<BR>> needed are a couple of solidly built fellows to place the piano on the<BR>> dolly in one fluid movemen= t. See how they do it and judge for yourself.<BR>><BR>> Peace<BR>><BR>> Jean-Jacques Granas<BR>> Warsaw<BR><BR>----- Orig= inal Message ----- <BR>>I have used the technique lots of times, especially = when moving within the<BR>> same building. You have to be very careful to al= low the lid to overhang <BR>> the<BR>> dolly.<BR>><BR>> I still pr= efer the skid.<BR>><BR>> Dean<BR>> Dean May       =      cell 812.239.3359<BR>> PianoRebuilders.com &nb= sp; 812.235.5272<BR>> Terre Haute IN  47802<BR>><BR>><BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>>  I just bought out a piano dealer = in my area, and have keep some of<BR>> their employee's, two which are the= ir movers,who have been working with<BR>> this company for years. I was talking with the owner, who was praising<BR>> their work, and he mentio= ned they don't use a skidboard when moving a<BR>> grand piano.They wrap it = in blankets, and put a canvas cover made for a<BR>> grand on it, and strai= ght to the dolly.<BR>> I don't want to come in and change their technique t= hat has worked for<BR>> years with them, but I have been moving piano's for= years as well, and<BR>> can't imagine not using a skidboard. I was wondering if anyone else on<BR>> the list had used this same technique.<BR>> Best,<BR>> Hazen Bannister <BR><BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"= >Dave Stahl<BR><BR>Dave Stahl Piano Service<BR>650-224-3560<U><BR><A href="http://www.dstahlpiano.net/">http://dstahlpiano.net/</A></U></FONT><= /DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>