How To Move a Piano by Yourself with the Wrong Equipment

PIANO MOVING

So you want to move a piano by yourself, huh?

HOW TO MOVE A PIANO BY YOURSELF

WITH THE WRONG EQUIPMENT

By Dean Petrich, RPT

Cover by Karen Lewis

Contents

INTRODUCTION

THE BASICS

Basic Questions

The Move

Equipment

Personal

Basic Rules

Helpful Rules to Keep in Mind

Basic Guidelines & Suggestions

Basic Equipment

Protection

Blankets

Straps

Extra Piano Guards

Clothing

The Elements

Onlookers

Yourself

Dollies

Types of Dollies

Make Your Own Dolly

Dolly Maintenance

Dolly Surfaces

Pneumatic Wheels

Six-Wheeled Dolly

Skid Boards

Types of Skid Boards

Skid Board Maintenance

Make Your Own Board

Straps

Options for Straps

Uses for Straps

Techniques for Using Straps

Rollers & Prying Tools

Rollers

Prying Tools

Planks & Ramps

Planks

Ramps

Types Vehicles

Panel Trucks

Pick-Up Trucks

Flat-Bed Trucks

Vans

Trailers

Help & Onlookers

Equipment Checklist

Basic Moves

Maneuvering Principles & Techniques

Maneuvering Dollies & Boards

How to Place an Upright Piano onto a Dolly

How to Set a Piano on Its Side onto a Dolly

How to Set a Piano onto a Skid Board

How to Set a Boarded Piano onto a Dolly

Tipping & Tilting

Tilting Aids

Physics

Pivot Point

Avoid

Corners & Tight Turns

Basic Rules for Corners

Walking a Piano

Simple Turn

Tight Turn

Remove Parts

Unusually Tight Turns

Absolutely No Room

Stairs & Landings

Types of Stairs

Tools for Moving Pianos up Stairs

Skid Board

Techniques for Moving a Piano up Stairs

One Step: Dolly

Two/Three Steps: roller or 6-wheel

Four/Five Steps: Ramp

Five or More Steps: Skid Board

The First Four Steps

Sliding a Piano Up Stairs

The Top Step

Protection

The Lift

Landings

Standard Large Landing

Long Narrow Landing

How to Move a Piano Balanced Diagonally on Edge

Short Narrow Landing

Elevators

Vehicle Techniques

Panel Trucks Techniques

Pick-Up Truck Techniques

Flat-Bed Truck Techniques

UNCONVENTIONAL SITUATIONS

How to Use the Wrong Equipment

Dolly Substitutes

Skid Board Alternatives

Roller Substitutes

Ramp Substitutes

Unique Equipment

Tools for Unusual Terrain

Protection Options

Specialty Tools

Unusual Vehicles

No Equipment

Unusual & Challenging Terrain

Types of Unusual Terrain

Techniques for Unusual Terrain

Dealing with Bumpy & Irregular Surfaces

Maneuvering Slopes & Steep Hills

Getting Over Holes & Gaps

Traversing Squishy & Soft Surfaces

Handling Slippery & Slick Surfaces

Taking Care with Fragile Floors & Ground Covers

Dealing with Weather

Weird Piano Positions

Low Ceilings

Dismantling a Piano for Extreme Squeezes

Inserting Moving Equipment in Tight Conditions

Particular Pianos

Shapes

Weight

Dimensions

Condition

Grand Pianos

How to Pick Up a Dropped Piano

How to Tip a Piano Over from Any Position

How to Right a Piano Lying on Its Side

How to Right an Upside-Down Piano

How to Right a Piano Resting on Its Face

How to Pick Up a Piano Lying Flat on Its Back

Moving Other Heavy Objects

HOW TO DISMANTLE A PIANO

Dismantling Procedure

Assess

Remove Parts

Uses for Dismantled Piano Parts

Furniture

Construction

Art

Toys & Play

ANECDOTES

Perfect Piano

Russia

Vertical Pivot

Fire Damage

Macho Man

Shack

Beach Video

Sandy Hill

Abandoned School

Over Railing

Kitchen Stairs

Built into the Basement

Balcony

Low Ceiling

Railing Removal

Rockery

Street Help

Piano Drop from Helicopter

When Things Go Wrong

About the Author

Introduction

So you want to move a piano by yourself, huh? You have a piano here, you need to get it to there, and now that you’ve decided that this needs to be done, you want to get it done right now. You have called the piano moving companies and have found out that it costs a bunch of money. It can’t be that hard to move a piano. You’ve moved furniture before. The piano is just a little bigger and heavier. There must be an easy way to do it, because pianos get moved around all the time. You’ve heard stories about people picking up pianos and carrying them upstairs, about people single-handedly maneuvering pianos through tight spaces, and you even have a friend who moved a piano once. If they can do it, so can you, right?

Now that it’s time to move the piano, reality hits. Oh. It weighs a lot. You don’t want to scratch the floors. How are you going to get it up and down the stairs? What is the best way to get it onto a truck? Will it fit around the corner? Should all the parts be taken off the piano to make it lighter? These questions initiate more and more questions, all asking how can this be done?’ or, more specifically, what is the best way to do this? or maybe more immediately, how can I learn how to do this right now?"

Until this book was written, the only ways you would have gotten your piano moved were either with a bunch of friends, brute force and a figure-it-out-as-we-go attitude, or to give in and hire piano movers. In many cases, hiring a professional is the preferable choice. By moving a piano without proper knowledge or equipment, the move might be done a little less than perfectly when pianos are scratched, parts are broken off, door frames and walls are nicked, floors are gouged, and bodies are injured. Hiring a professional provides several advantages. First, a professional is licensed, bonded, insured and experienced. Second, a professional has all the proper equipment. Third, professionals are swift: they can have the job done far more easily and quickly than can any first-time mover. Yes, professionals do cost a lot more than doing something by yourself for free, assuming that your time is worth nothing; but if anything gets damaged, suddenly the cost of the free move bumps up.

What is the worst that could happen if you try to move a piano on your own? The piano could be dropped and smashed into an irreparable condition. You or someone else could end up in the hospital for months, and your body may never be the same again. The walls or staircase or floor might need to be completely redone. The primary piano player will be angry and may never forgive you. You will be embarrassed for having told everyone what you were going to do before you knew how things were going to turn out. You will have to take up a smaller musical instrument.

Now that you know the worst, are you still thinking of doing this move yourself? Why would you ever want to move a piano by yourself? Are you so low on funds that you can’t afford to hire someone, or are you just trying to cut corners? Do you live in such a remote location that there are no piano movers out there? Is this move so difficult that all the movers refuse to touch it? Is this piano so special that you won’t let anyone else handle it? Or are you adventuresome and looking for a new challenge?

If, after all this, you still are planning to move a piano yourself, then this book is for you. This book is designed to give you the basic knowledge necessary for acquiring the equipment and skills that will facilitate your move, and to give you the confidence that you can do it one way or another. The first part of the book discusses conventional ways of moving a piano. The second part covers unconventional techniques, how to use available items as moving aids, suggestions for improvisation, and what to do in challenging circumstances. It ends with true piano moving stories that transform the mundane into the miraculous. By the time you’re done with this book, you’ll be able to move your piano all over the place.

THE BASICS

Basic Questions

Interview yourself by asking some basic piano moving assessment questions. Answer the following questions to get a clear picture of your piano move:

The Move

What kind of piano is it? Upright (spinet/console/studio/upright/player) or grand?

What brand name is your piano? If a grand, what size is it?

What type of floor is the piano currently resting on? (wood/carpet/linoleum/tile/brick/concrete)

Are there any tight corners or turns to deal with?

How many steps or stair cases are involved at each end of the move? Describe the stairs (how many, wood/carpet/concrete, straight/curved, dimensions of landing)

Are there any turns involved on the stairs? How big are the landings?

Once the piano is outside, what type of terrain is it going over to get to the truck? (lawn/tall grass/concrete/grass/broken walkway/gravel/sand/dirt/mud/wood/etc.)

What type of truck are you using? (pick-up/U-Haul/flatbed/van/trailer/etc.)

At the other end, what type of terrain will the piano travel over?

Are there any stairs involved? Do they involve turns? What are they made of?

What type of floor will the piano finally be resting on? (Will you need caster cups?)

Have you measured the piano and your passageways to find out if the piano will fit?

Equipment

Do you have access to a piano dolly? If not, what type of dolly are you using?

If you are dealing with stairs, do you have access to a skid board and straps?

What type of truck are you using? (U-Haul/pick-up/flatbed/moving truck/etc.)

Do you have a ramp? (metal/wood/other/how long?)

How many people are helping you?

If it rains, do you have blankets, tarps and raingear?

Do you have moving straps, rope, etc.?

Does the piano have metal or rubber wheels, and do you have piano caster cups?

Do you have shoes with secure treads?

Do you have gloves?

Personal

Before doing anything, take time to think and ask questions.

Logical Questions

Have you moved pianos before?

How soon do you need to do this? Are you in a hurry?

Why do you want to do this yourself? (Is the reason strictly financial? Were you not able to find anyone to do it? Do you need to prove that you can do it yourself? Is this an issue of time and expediency?)

If this becomes too difficult or complicated, are you willing to hire professionals?

How many more times do you plan on moving this piano?

Do you really need to move this piano? Why not sell it and buy/rent another later?

Essential Decisions

Do you have the necessary equipment? If not, can you obtain, borrow, purchase or construct what you need?

Do you have a vehicle that can accommodate your piano?

Do you have sufficient help?

Do you have the time?

Do you know what you’re doing? Are you going to read this book before you move your piano to make sure you don’t make any mistakes, or are you going to read it after you have moved your piano to find out what you should have done?

Is moving a piano by yourself worth it?

Is this a move that you feel capable of doing by yourself?

What if you accidentally damage your piano or damage something else? Are you willing to pay the consequences if you make a mistake?

Is your time and effort economically justifiable? Is the time and effort you will be putting into the move less costly than hiring professionals?

Is this move worth it emotionally? Is it going to stress you out, create arguments, or result in negative feelings? Is the amount of money you plan on saving worth the amount of energy, worry and emotions attached to it?

Is the act of moving a piano by yourself a symbol of independence and one more feather in your cap of memorable accomplishments in your life?

Are you willing to dig into your pocket to hire someone else to move your piano?

Are you willing to give in and let professionals take over?

Do you have enough money to hire piano movers?

Do you trust piano movers?

Are you in a hurry?

Basic Rules

Helpful Rules to Keep in Mind

Take Your Time

Don’t be in a hurry. A piano move should not be exciting. Act as though this move is the most important thing in your life, and during this time nothing else matters.

Have a Plan

Think through the process before acting. Visualize and discuss options.

The More People the Better

Moral support and additional brains are always helpful.

Posture

When lifting, keep your back straight, arms straight, and use your legs and skeleton. Breathe out during exertion.

Do Short Lifts

Avoid lifting for longer than two or three seconds at a time.

Stop and Think

If what you’re doing is too difficult, there are probably ten different ways to accomplish any particular move. Use your brains rather than brawn. Piano moving is all balance, leverage, pivots, rolls, tilts, technique, and tools.

Wood vs. Flesh

Remember that a piano is just a bunch of wood, felt and metal and can be repaired, whereas people are delicate, much more valuable, and very difficult or impossible to repair. A piano has a dollar value, but a human is priceless. When given the choice of trying to catch a falling piano in your arms or jumping out of the way, make a realistic decision.

Use Protection

Protect yourself. Wear shoes, especially shoes with good traction. Wear gloves. Wear long sleeves. Make sure your fingers are not between the piano and the door frame, railing, or anything that does not move.

Protect the piano. If you are uncomfortably close to a wall or the corner of a metal railing, for example, take a few extra seconds to fold a blanket over the railing or the piano just in case the two come in contact with each other. It takes a lot less time to protect something than it does to repair it afterward.

Basic Guidelines and Suggestions

Be organized.

Plan ahead.

Line up help.

Gather your necessary equipment in advance.

Delegate positions and job roles for each helper.

Keep track of things. Allocate a place where tools and equipment should be placed when in and out of use.

Be methodical.

Being methodical and having a system results in an efficient move.

Everyone’s time is valuable. Reduce or avoid redundancies, mistakes, and misjudgments.

Explain the process sequentially.

Be confident.

Some people become uptight, nervous and worried during a piano move.

Be the leader. Take charge, and assign duties.

Demonstrate body positions.

Pre-talk each move.

Slow down during delicate situations.

Remain objective. Keep the overall process in mind. Visualize the entire move.

Be creative.

Think outside the box. Every move is unique and has specific requirements.

Follow the basic principles, but use available resources.

There are many ways to do any one thing. If one way doesn’t work or is too difficult, think of another way to accomplish the task. The traditional way is not always the best.

Be careful.

The goal is to move the piano without damaging anything. You don’t want to damage the piano, the facility, the vehicle, your friends, or yourself.

Move slowly, and err on the cautious side. Use common sense.

Use protective equipment.

Basic Equipment

Protection

Pianos are big, heavy and awkward. When a lot of weight is in motion, things can easily become damaged. It is important to be prepared for these unexpected incidents by having and using protective equipment. Not only does the piano need to be protected from getting scratched or nicked, but other things need to be protected as well, such as the walls and door frames, the floor or carpet, your fingers and toes. Think not only about protecting yourself but also your helpers and any onlookers.

Blankets

Of course, professional moving blankets are the best because they are thick with stuffing and they are made to withstand heavy-duty use. The light side is the clean side; the dark side is the dirty side. Moving blankets can be purchased, but you might know someone who owns some that you could borrow. If you don’t have any moving blankets, you could use any type of fabric that you have handy – the thicker the better. Think of the options. Besides actual blankets, there are quilts, sleeping bags, pillows, towels, rugs, and even clothing -- possibly wrapped in a sheet. Place the cleanest surfaces against the piano. Be aware that some fabrics are rough and will actually scratch smooth surfaces.

Professional movers always blanket their pianos before moving them. Some movers put all pianos – even uprights and spinets – on skid boards, and then wrap and strap the pianos before moving them. This solves any problems such as weak, thin or broken bottom boards, prevents the possibility of breaking off pedals or casters, and makes any piano move seem the same because it is systematized. Blankets protect pianos in several ways:

Blankets protect the wood edges from any scratching from the tightened straps.

Blankets protect the piano from being damaged or scratched as it passes through doorways or bushes.

Blankets protect the piano from people’s belt buckles and watchbands.

Blankets protect the piano from surprise weather changes.

Blankets protect wood floors from caster scratches and dents.

Blankets protect the top edges of stairs from any rubbing by the lip of a ramp.

Straps

What keeps the blankets