| This piece is written as an aid to training. | | | | pneumatic mechanisms you may need to raise and |
| Amateurmovers should regard the information here as | | | | support the left corner by 6 inches in order to drop the |
| reasons not to attempt piano movements. Basic | | | | lyre). That done, the piece can then be lowered or |
| knowledge of lifting techniques may only encourage | | | | kneeled over. It is like an elephant kneeling... with the |
| severe harm to assistants, yourself, and least of all...the | | | | back, and front right leg still in place. |
| piano. | | | | Piano shoes are built so that the front left corner - by |
| The piano is not only heavy and unwieldy, but has | | | | the keyboard - is protected. This is the corner that will |
| polished and vulnerable surfaces to protect. Grand | | | | meet the ground first. |
| pianos have legs which are designed as stands, and | | | | Sometimes a piano skid is used. This is like a sledge, |
| they should be jacked up with proper tools - just to be | | | | and is placed on the floor so the flat side of the piano |
| moved across a room. | | | | can be lowered onto it. Adequate cushioning is |
| Even upright pianos, which may be very heavy, | | | | essential to protect the fine surface of the piano.what |
| typically suffer from failed castors. I wonder what | | | | is the difference between a skid and a shoe? |
| percentage of the pianos moved actually do have a | | | | A shoe is an old fashioned tool which is strapped to |
| full set of working castors?... not many! | | | | the side of a grand piano before it is lowered. It is a |
| Upright Pianos | | | | frame made of wood with cushioning and strap holes, |
| Some are small and light, whilst some, notably older | | | | and strapping attached. Its main purpose is to protect |
| pianos, are like grand pianos sitting upright. The weight | | | | the polished surface of a pianos straight edge.. |
| and size of upright pianos can vary from less than | | | | A skid is slightly more general purpose... For example it |
| 200kgs to over 400kgs. | | | | might be useful for moving a heavy safe. An upright or |
| Every moving job has hurdles: The easiest are turns, | | | | grand piano could be placed and strapped onto it, and |
| steps, and gradients, but these hurdles can become | | | | it is probably designed with runners or wheels to allow |
| real challenges when staircases - especially with tight | | | | movement. It may be a metal frame with a padded |
| turns, are involved. | | | | wooden board bolted on. |
| A piano can be easily hauled up stairs with the right | | | | It can be slid up and down stairs. |
| equipment. | | | | The skid should be placed onto eight inch high blocks |
| A straight set of stairs can be overcome with no | | | | to reduce the back breaking weight of lowering a |
| more than a suitable length of plank and good | | | | (grand) piano right to the floor...This will allow the trolley |
| strapping... Heavy slippery plastic sheet can help. | | | | (around eight inches high) to be placed more easily |
| However often, there will be an inconvenient turn on | | | | underneath the skid, between the blocks. |
| the stairs, and this may require that the piano is | | | | Determining the exact angle at which to place the skid |
| overturned up to 90 degrees onto its side. | | | | is a matter of some experience. Plenty of padding is |
| Ideally a piano skid should be used. It is like a sledge to | | | | recommended. |
| which the piano can be strapped. The skid not only | | | | The piano can now be moved all the way over to sit |
| provides a running surface to slide on, but holes | | | | flat on it's straight side, and The other two legs can |
| through which to attach strapping. A piano at 45 | | | | now be removed. |
| degrees on the stairs offers almost no points to pull up | | | | The various makers have their own methods of |
| on, but a skid with strapping points at the centre of | | | | securing the legs.. Use the mallet to tap towards the |
| gravity - in the middle of the skid - can help two men | | | | wooden locking wedge. If it does not move, take time |
| pulling and one pushing beneath , to pull a piano both up | | | | to look and think... The answer will not be force, but it |
| the stairs and also to up-angle it to turn a tight corner. | | | | may be a 90 degree rotation. |
| When carefully tied tight to the skid with ratchet straps | | | | A feature of the shoe or skid is that there is some |
| there will be full control and confidence that the piano | | | | strapping handles to lift it - together with the piano - so |
| will not topple backwards. | | | | the trolley can be wheeled underneath. The trolley is a |
| When straight stairs are encountered, a skid allows 2 | | | | purpose made piece of equipment. Typically, it might |
| men to do the work of three... A piano will slide up (or | | | | be an approximately 2 foot long by 14 inches wide, |
| down) with ease control and safety... But please note | | | | heavy aluminium frame which incorporates 2 steel |
| that I built my own skid with slippery nylon runners! | | | | axles (and 4 rubber mounted wheels in total). |
| Grand and Baby Grand Pianos. | | | | The piano must now be strapped to the shoe / skid, |
| You will need: | | | | and covers applied. |
| 1) A piano shoe with two blocks, | | | | The piano / shoe and trolley should be tenderly ratchet |
| A piano shoe is a wooden frame made in various | | | | strapped to theshoe if there are any steps or |
| lengths to fit different sizes of piano. It has padding, | | | | obstacles which may separate the two. The tension |
| strap holes and straps to secure it to the piano, and | | | | should be just so that all moves as one, but without |
| provide a surface to move on. | | | | exerting unnecessary tension on the piano. In practice, |
| 2) A piano trolley, | | | | it is better to take the time to always take this |
| 3) Suitable strapping, | | | | precaution. |
| 4) Suitable protective wraps, | | | | All movements should be conducted with a 'hug'... The |
| 5) A rubber mallet and screwdrivers. | | | | moving team should always connect shoulders and |
| If you are using a moving truck, it will require room to | | | | weight to the piece at all times so as to correct any |
| work inside and a straight wall with good strapping | | | | loss of balance before, and not after it becomes |
| points...Think about the wheel arch covers featured in | | | | exaggerated. |
| small vans... and their lack of strapping points. | | | | Obstacles such as steps or curb stones are always |
| Handling requires at least two (very strong) or three | | | | approached squarely with 2 wheels and never at an |
| good men... and that's if the going is easy. | | | | angle. |
| If you are moving a grand or baby grand piano: | | | | On the van : |
| The piece will have to be lowered flat onto it's long | | | | Strap the piano with at least one end on the front |
| straight side. | | | | bulkhead, so breaking force does not work on the |
| The process may start by removing the lid... If the lid | | | | strapping. |
| overhangs the straight side of the piano, the piano's | | | | Ratchet straps are not recommended on van wall |
| weight may tear the lid's screws from their threads. | | | | strapping bars... They can apply enough pressure to |
| You will also reduce the weight by removing the lid, | | | | damage the wall of the van, and the metal parts can |
| and make the piece easier to handle. It will also be | | | | scratch a polished surface... |
| possible to run a strap through the flat side of the | | | | But very tenderly applied, they are preferable to |
| piano and round both the skid and trolley for secure | | | | amateur or ineffective 'knots'. Professional mover's |
| movement. | | | | web straps are the right solution since they are strong |
| The lid must be then wrapped in suitable blankets or | | | | and tie up right...Tight and secure at hand pressure. |
| covers. | | | | There must be no movement at all, since the piano will |
| With the lid removed, a suitable sized piano shoe is | | | | try to work itself loose in transit. |
| strapped to the left (straight) side of the piece, and | | | | This article is intended as introductory reading for new |
| then whilst supporting the weight - preferably with a | | | | staff. |
| purpose made piano stand, the front left leg and the | | | | It in no way amounts to full instruction for the trade of |
| lyre ( the foot pedal assembly) is removed (in some | | | | piano moving. |