Arp Schnitger Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Forgive me for a non-organ related topic, but some of you also may have to move pianos for a choir practice and I'd welcome your advice. Before choir practice, I need to move our church upright (fairly modern so not as heavy as some) piano across a stone floor on to a carpeted surface where our Nave altar lives. (Ideally I would like to move it down- yes, down- one step into the chancel as well but I think that's a bridge too far as the step is too big for a ramp) It has fairly decent standard school type casters on it. Upto now, this has been a reasonably straightforward task to undertake singlehanded. The carpet was recently replaced, and now when I move the piano, the metal carpet edging strip buckles and the piano is three times as heavy to push on the carpet, as the pile is slightly thicker, at least until this carpet has had lots of use. Any advice? Are there clever devices out there that some of you might have to assist with piano moving on different surfaces? (Yes I know the obvious answer would be to dispense with the carpet!) We are looking to get a much stronger brass strip that doesn't buckle, but the extra friction on the carpet is making things rather harder. (And if any of you need to move a piano between two levels, it would be good to know if methods other than a ramp or lots of strong choir members are involved!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Oakley Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Forgive me for a non-organ related topic, but some of you also may have to move pianos for a choir practice and I'd welcome your advice. Before choir practice, I need to move our church upright (fairly modern so not as heavy as some) piano across a stone floor on to a carpeted surface where our Nave altar lives. (Ideally I would like to move it down- yes, down- one step into the chancel as well but I think that's a bridge too far as the step is too big for a ramp) It has fairly decent standard school type casters on it. Upto now, this has been a reasonably straightforward task to undertake singlehanded. The carpet was recently replaced, and now when I move the piano, the metal carpet edging strip buckles and the piano is three times as heavy to push on the carpet, as the pile is slightly thicker, at least until this carpet has had lots of use. Any advice? Are there clever devices out there that some of you might have to assist with piano moving on different surfaces? (Yes I know the obvious answer would be to dispense with the carpet!) We are looking to get a much stronger brass strip that doesn't buckle, but the extra friction on the carpet is making things rather harder. (And if any of you need to move a piano between two levels, it would be good to know if methods other than a ramp or lots of strong choir members are involved!) It might be worth considering getting hold of some large sheets of MDF or plywood, laying them on the carpet and rolling the piano over the hard surface to its required position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newnham Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Hi Talk to your friendly local piano tuner (or dealer). Special piano castors are available (or at least, they used to be). We changed a set on an upright back in the late 1970's enabling the piano to be moved single-handed from hall (hard wooden floor) into the church (carpet) with no great difficulty. In your situation, it might be worth getting the carpet fitters back to sort out the edging strip that's distorting. Don't be tempted to go to a hardware store - ordinary casters to take the weight will be too large & raise the pedals too far from the ground. Every Blessing Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madorganist Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 We had our grand fitted with a metal frame on wheels - easy to move. It was supplied by our piano tuners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Woollard Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 As mad organist suggests, try the following : http://www.heckscher.co.uk/upright-safety-castors/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Woollard Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 You could also simply phone Fletcher and Newman on 01732 886555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arp Schnitger Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Thank you for all suggestions- I will pass them on to the churchwardens... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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