Absolutely the University should supply you with at least some tools and supplies as you go along, over time. Undoubtably you will have to continue “helping out” by bringing your own gear etc.
Depends on how much if any budget they give you.
Hopefully they will go with letting you come up with a “starter list” of more expensive first time or one-time acquisitions. Big stuff for example, like a drill press, jack-in-the box, grand action caddy, a one man upright piano tilter. Key bushing cauls of all sizes needed for piano makes at the institution, to rebush keys.
They should also have a annual
budget for buying piano shop consumables like piano wire, etc., new action parts like hammers and whippens, sets of bass strings, etc. rebuild/recon actions, action cloth, punchings, etc. according to how many pianos will be “project” pianos and go through reconditioning and rebuilding throughout the course of the year and summer. And of course, $ for acquiring new and replacement tools as you go along.
Sean
A bigger shop vacuum and a couple of smaller hose canister or small shop vacuums for carrying around to clean pianos with. Basic tools like ball peen hammers, rubber mallets, chisels, socket and combination wrench set, cordless lithium drill drivers, like that. Those small black Rubbermaid utility carts sure are nice for carting actions and tools around.
A starter set of felt and paper punchings with refills, a comprehensive set of grand and upright regulation tools; pinning tools and center pins, stringing tools and string, specialty piano technician tools, on and on it goes.
I doubt that many schools would have the budget or foresight to lay out a princely sum to buy all these things—at least, not all at once.
I still have to schlep some of my own technician tools to work, and, I’m letting the piano shop “borrow” a few tools from me for a time. Eventually I’ll be able to stop having to do that as the piano shop acquires what UCLA HASOM needs for a good piano maintenance program.
A good Inventory of parts and supplies have to be built up over time, over years, that’s for sure.
Sean McLaughlin
Lead Piano Technician
UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
Los Angeles, California
310-825-7058 office/piano shop
Original Message------
Richard.
It it depends on the agreement you have with the school. When I was hired by Alabama, I brought all my own tools and equipment, and even my own supplies like strings, punchings, etc. In exchange I was allowed to use my shop at the school to do my own private work. I didn't have to pay for shop space or electricity. They bought bass strings, action parts, etc. for the school pianos. But when I left, I took all my stuff with me.
Up up until I got there they had a part time tuner who took all the pianos to his own shop and billed the school for whatever he used. But he had his shop in his house.
I don't know what they did after I left.
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Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
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