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"One-man" Method of piano moving

  • 1.  "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-22-2019 17:26
    Hi Sean, I would like to ask a little more about this:
    "I have a system I figured out for moving uprights onto a moving dolly and being able move them on my own (using a Johnson bar, sand weight bag, RV wheel chocks)"

    I remember seeing some posting on this, perhaps similar to your method. So please share a little more & share some pics if possible. 
    Thanks Much! Kevin 

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    [Kevin] [Fortenberry] [RPT]
    [Staff Techician]
    [Texas Tech Univ]
    [Lubbock] [TX]
    [8067783962]
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  • 2.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Posted 04-27-2019 11:33
    Hi Kevin!

    I attempted to post pictures with description but alas! No go. I’ll have to visit that and figure it out when I have a little more time😄. This method of mine is used for uprights. For grands, a KTT piano mover is the answer for that. Check that one out on YouTube. Grand moves need two people minimum to move the piano around once it’s up on a skid. (Though I’ve seen one man move a grand all by himself.).

    Basically, a Johnson bar (big wheeled hickory lever with a plate iron “tongue” sorta like a handtruck has, but smaller,) is used to get under each end of the piano in turn (contacting the “skid” underneath on the bottom of the upright—a strong point to lift an upright) and lift it. A double sand bag is used to hold the lever down while the piano is held up in the air by the lever. I used a couple of RV wheel chocks screwed into a couple of short boards (to add height), slide that under one end of the piano, and lower the piano onto that which amply supports the piano on that end. I then wheel around the Johnson bar to the other end of the piano, lift the piano up, use the sandbag to hold the lever down. Now the piano is suspended in air with enough clearance to put a piano dolly underneath. After I place the dolly under the piano, I lower that end of the piano onto the dolly with the lever already in place.

    I then use the lever to lift the piano up again on the other end, secure the lever with the sandbag, slide out the wheel chocks appliance out of the way, and lower that end of the piano onto the dolly. Taking the piano off the dolly once it is moved where it is going is reverse order. A

    I am an experienced piano mover. If the way is very flat to where I need to go, minimal door thresholds, absence of slopes etc along the way, I can move the upright myself to another room etc. if not, I’ll get at least one another person to help me. One person on each side of the piano in case the piano starts to tip or rock along the way. Piano loads are top heavy typsy and one has to be experienced and careful with potential pitfalls in moving pianos around.

    Lastly, there are advantages in having casters on your piano dolly which are fixed rather than turn freely, especially moving pianos on a slant down sloped walkways and driveways. That is a subject for another post. I bought the 1000 pound steel grand piano moving dolly from New Haven and it came with fixed wheels all around. At first I thought “what!?” How do you turn this thing? Well, there is a way when the piano load is well balanced on the dolly. It is actually a good arrangement when you understand how to use it properly.

    Sean McLaughlin
    Lead Piano Technician
    UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
    Los Angeles, California
    310-825-7058




  • 3.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-27-2019 12:33
    Thanks so much Sean. Great info. First, I completely agree about the 2 fixed casters on the moving dolly. My mentor, Jim Geiger uses his special dolly (which he makes & sells from time to time.) His use 4 ginormous fixed casters also. So I'm very familiar with that. My personal dolly has 2 fixed, which is great for what little Moving I am required to do at the school, which is vertical pianos only. We have a piano horse for EMERGENCY grand moved but thankfully haven't had to move one in like 7 years (YAAAY!) I do as little moving as possible-but I am interested in this Johnson Bar because it is getting harder & harder to secure a good helper to insert & remove the dolly for me. 
    So there is certainly no rush but I look forward further pics & info in the future. 
    Best to you Sean!!

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    [Kevin] [Fortenberry] [RPT]
    [Staff Techician]
    [Texas Tech Univ]
    [Lubbock] [TX]
    [8067783962]
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Posted 04-28-2019 11:05
    Hi Kevin,

    The main thing I was looking for in coming up with a moving setup for uprights, was not primarily for the ability to move upright pianos by myself, which I have actually ended up doing a lot, but, to get away from the “dead lift” “brute force” of lifting of an upright piano from the floor to get it onto a piano dolly. It’s not an advantageous situation leverage wise and fraught with injury peril. I’m a fairly strong guy with a strong back but 1.) why push our luck straining to dead lift this kind of weight—uprights are heavy and hard to lift with a lot of strain on lower back; and 2.) age has a way of catching up with us. “Years AND mileage”. I’m not quite as strong as I used to be, and body components like back vertebrae and disc cartilages do wear out and cause problems with use and abuse!!

    That was my main objective in coming up with this arrangement to lift a piano up onto a dolly. But the thought that I might work this out to move a piano by myself was frosting on the cake.

    Notes on moving gear

    The Johnson bar is also known as a “pry bar” or “lift lever”. I bought my “5 foot lift lever with rubber wheels” from New Haven Moving Equipment and found that the 5 foot length gave plenty of leverage to lift an upright piano with minimal force without being so cumbersome to use as a 6’ length would be. Plus there are length considerations trying to move a piano out of a small office or practice room, getting enough clearance to use the lever on both sides of the piano in a small space. I sometimes have to push a piano around a bit and align it an open doorway etc to get this to work.

    The force applied to lift an upright with the lever is about 20 pounds (!) I then use a canvas “saddle sandbag” of double attached sand bags rated at 25 pounds, to hold the lever down. I found one like the one I use at a website called “Georgia Expo Manufacturing Corporation” for $13.99. The “saddle” configuration is useful because you can straddle the two bags (which are attached to each other) onto the lift lever, one bag sitting on each side of the lever. This is a very satisfactory and stable arrangement for holding the lever down without having the counterweight slip off the lever somehow.

    At first I used a typical iron 25 pound disc style or small single “mini barbell” workout weight, sort of propped on top of the end of the lever, to weigh the lever down for me; and it always made me feel a bit anxious that I might accidentally dislodge the weight or it might slide too easily off at an ill timed moment. The saddle style sandbag works quite well and lowers anxiety level.

    And I do use a typical good quality flat dolly with turning wheels all around most of the time, indoors. But once headed outdoors for any reason, the fixed wheel dolly is the tool for me for all the slight “sideways” slopes and slight drainage angles of sidewalks, walkways, etc. encountered, which can make things more uneasy and unwieldy, especially with fewer people to help stabilize the moving load. The four fixed wheels keep a load going straight regardless of sideways “lean” and slope encountered along the way, and makes things far less unwieldy that way. It is amazing when moving heavy things around how much of a “mind of their own” they have inertia wise; and how slight angles and minor bumps, sidewalk cracks and expansion joints, become more formidable obstacles to deal with.

    Also, the “taller configuration” of 4” or larger casters can be helpful to be able maneuver over taller thresholds and even “walk up” a stair or step, by tilting the piano back on the dolly’s two back wheels, “popping a wheely” so to speak, getting the front wheels on the stair or step, then lifting the piano load onto the stair or step. With the weight of the load always contacting, not having to deadweight lift all the weight at once, such obstacles are way less daunting. It is always important having the dolly placed under a grand skid or upright piano in a “sweet spot” place where it is “balanced” and allows you to more easily “tip the piano” when needed.

    Probably way more info than you are looking for...but...thanks for letting me share!

    I have been surprised and fascinated at all the things physics and leverage can do when applied properly!

    Sean McLaughlin
    Lead Piano Technician
    UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
    Los Angeles, California
    310-825-7058




  • 5.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-27-2019 15:34
    KTT has a nifty alternative to the Johnson barThis alternative to the KTT equipment allows for one person grand moving - pricey, though.






  • 6.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Posted 04-28-2019 09:18
    Several years prior to my retiring from at a performing arts insitution in NYC, we purchased the KTT piano mover. We found it to be an excellent purchase as we averaged 5-10 moves per month. The device is well thought out in both design and execution. It does indeed eliminate all lifting. The battery allowed for roughly 6 pairs of moves before requiring charging but the battery can safely be left plugged in all times the when not in use. 

    The KTT can move any size grand; the only restriction we noted was room size. The device cannot be used in practice rooms smaller than roughly 8 by 8 foot. No more rolling pianos on lyres if you use that method, no more risk of lowering the piano onto the lid which can happen to anyone occasionally, no more physical strain on the technicians, reduced risk of accidents. 

    If you have the need for highly advanced and more expensive piano moving equipment, check YouTube for Pianolift 2.

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    Steve Carver
    Otis MA
    319-321-3687
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  • 7.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Posted 04-28-2019 11:07
    Hi Fred,

    We are eagerly awaiting delivery of the KTT “Smart Mover” for moving grands. Any day now!!!!

    The Johnson bar lever is strictly used for lifting uprights.

    Sean McLaughlin
    Lead Piano Technician
    UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
    Los Angeles, California
    310-825-7058




  • 8.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Posted 04-28-2019 12:05
    Coupla things I forgot to mention with the KTT Smart Mover.

    It does only move grands.

    Each mover is custom made for the customer.
    Plan on ever moving more than 6 grand pianos in a day? That’s the limit with 1 battery. You can order it with 2 or more (common 12 volt lead acid motorcycle batteries) wired in series to handle (double or more) moves in a day. Infrequently but occasionally, we have that need (practice rooms needing pianos moved out getting renovated etc)

    Want to use the mover in a truck or trailer? It can be supplied with a tie down system welded onto it for that kind of use.

    The KTT Smart Piano Mover comes stock with 2 “locking casters” which will transform from turning, to fixed, casters. Once you start moving pianos you will understand the utility of not having a moving dolly with 4 free turning casters for many situations. I ordered UCLA’s piano mover with 4 “lockable” casters so all 4 can be transformed from free turning into fixed casters.

    One last word: I don’t want to sound boastful of our situation at UCLA which would allow purchase of such a device. UCLA is positioned in a very wealthy area and I want to bow to them with hat in hand, and humbly and heartfeltedly thank the many local families and foundations who support our publicly funded school. We take donations in kind of wonderful pianos donated by estates of successful and generous souls. It is one thing for people to become wealthy and successful in life; quite another to see them give so much and look out for the needs of the community around them and give. UCLA is very community minded and hosts outreach programs which affect the lives of thousands of children and youth throughout the LA area. That’s made possible because of those who have, wish to give back to those who don’t, and make it possible for many to attend this school and have decent facilities and programs to benefit from.

    I love working for this institution and we have been uniquely blessed in the situation we are in.

    Sean McLaughlin
    Lead Piano Technician
    UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
    Los Angeles, California
    310-825-7058




  • 9.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-29-2019 18:45
    Hi all..

    The college I work for is a very proud owner of a KTT mover as well (thanks to some money from the provost), and I only wish we could have purchased it sooner than we did.

    It's saved us in money, time and headache.


    5'4" me can move a grand piano myself in about ½ hour and that's only because of finangling (sp??) everything else (non-piano related) in the room to position it.

    The only time I need assistance is steering, because I can't see too well when pushing it.
    And speaking of pushing it, the wheels on this move like buttah.

    We opted to purchase the second carriage to move concert grands, and I would advise any college to do the same as we all have a few of those lying around.
    (And wouldn't you like to do a bunch of the work in the shop before you go back to the concert hall?)

     

    I love it.

    Best shop tool ever purchased.
    People flip when they see it work and I'm proud we have one.
    We named it "Lenny" after Leonard the guy who invented it, and because Lenny (from Laverne and Shirley) was one of my first crushes.

     

    WE LOVE LENNY!!!

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    Michelle Stranges
    Western Washington University
    Bellingham, WA
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  • 10.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Posted 04-29-2019 19:15
    Right Michelle! So good to hear your comments about the wheels, that you can pretty much move the piano yourself, and so forth. Thank you!

    I got to see this thing “live” at Colburn nearby us (they use a crew of two people working it), and Leonard and I met at last year’s Shigeru Kawai training so I peltered him with questions. He is a really good guy and what a clever invention. I thought about Moondog etc but I am convinced this is the best way for us to go. No lifting getting the piano on skid/dolly!

    It’s true—our school will save quite a bit of money on hiring piano movers and that was a big incentive for them to dive in and get this for the piano shop. This will mean some more work for us schlepping pianos around the school rather than handing that off to movers. But the idea I can move pianos in and out of the shop was huge. UCLA purchased the larger carriage “option” for 9 foot grands as well.

    Here a picture of my unmechanized (except for human 20 pound push of force on the Johnson bar lever) “one man upright piano mover”:

    the 5’ “Johnson bar” lever is the secret here, doing all the heavy lifting to get the piano off the floor and putting a dolly underneath. The “yellow thingy” holding up the other end of the piano is a couple of RV wheel chocks in series screwed onto a couple of boards. I “Johnson bar” up the piano to slide the wheel chocks under that end and lower the piano down on the wheel chocks. Then I raise the other end up with the Johnson bar and the lever is held into place with a 25 pound “saddlebag” sandbag. Slip the dolly under, lever down the piano, lever up over the RV wheel chocks and slide them out, then lower that piano end onto the dolly.

    Reverse mode to remove dolly at destination.




  • 11.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-01-2019 07:12
    So the big question, who services this machines when failure looms?   I've followed this company from it's inception and have always been intrigued with its thoughtful engineering.

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    Tom Servinsky
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  • 12.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-17-2019 11:53
    Pianotek is now selling the KTT lifter and stand without the hyper expensive machine. It is around $400 and while the lever is shorter than the J bar that keyboard carriage uses the system is very similar and doesn't require a sand bag or other weight to hold the piano after lifting. This is a link to the same video as in the Pianotek newsletter.  KTT Lifter & Stand Demo
    YouTube remove preview
    KTT Lifter & Stand Demo
    Setting a dolly under a concert grand is easy!
    View this on YouTube >
    .

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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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  • 13.  RE: "One-man" Method of piano moving

    Posted 05-17-2019 22:19
    Yes, I’m contemplating getting the KT lifter for UCLA’s piano shop also. My whole deal was a setup I cobbled together myself with stuff I had around and could get my hands on here at school. (KT lifter runs $399 at Pianotek)

    I don’t know if it will pick up an upright and lift it up in the air to get a dolly under it like it does a grand piano as shown in Leonard’s video. If it does it would be a slick way to go

    Sean McLaughlin
    Lead Piano Technician
    UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
    Los Angeles, California
    310-825-7058 office/piano shop