Pianotech

  • 1.  Dollies on a spinet piano (in Australia)

    Posted 10-08-2025 03:17

    Hi there

    My apologies if I'm in the wrong place - I stumbled across this post (which was very interesting and helpful but more than 10 years old) and thought that someone in the community might be able to help me.

    I have a yamaha spinet piano.  I am wanting to come up with a way of moving from the room it is in to the next room easily for house gigs (might happen 2-3 times a year) without damaging floors / having to lift it etc.  So ideally something that is permanent (it is ok if it means the piano is a bit higher off the ground).

    I know the front legs are more decorative than anything and so can't take the weight of moving it.  Wondering what you would suggest.  I saw online that the Jansen Upright Piano Dolly J-4010 might be suitable for this sort of thing?

    I read elsewhere that this is not suitable for pianos with free standing front legs.  Does that mean I should be looking more at the spinet and console dolly?  I'm just a bit nervous about the look of this as it seems to require the front legs to take a bit of the weight and I'm not sure they could do that.  

    I would be open to replacing those legs with something more solid but I can't see to find someone local who could do this.

    Having watched videos like this one, I think I could probably manage this myself with assistance from my dad - but I've noticed the device used to tip the piano over on its side.  Are there alternatives to this (eg could I just get a group of people to take the weight of the piano instead)?  Where would I get one?  Would piano tuners typically have these?

    Thanks for your time,

    Kind Regards

    Liam

    P.S sorry the 2nd and 3rd images have come up side ways!


     


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    Liam Dixon
    Chadstone VIC
    Australia
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  • 2.  RE: Dollies on a spinet piano (in Australia)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-08-2025 07:54
    Liam

    The Jansen Upright Piano Dolly J-4010 would be perfect for your needs. Don't worry about the front legs, since they will be up off the ground with these dollies.  

    What you want to do is pick up one side of the piano and slide one of the dollies under the piano. As you can see, there are holes in the back of the dolly. Use 2" long lag bolts to screw it to the piano. (You won't damage anything). Then pick up the other end of the piano and slide the other under and screw it down. The three of four screws in the back of each dolly should be enough to hold the dollies in place. But for added security, you can tip the piano on its end, (either side), and insert one of two screws in the bottom. If you're fairly strong you can probably do that yourself. Just lift with your legs. Put a blanket on the floor so as not to damage the finish of the piano. 

    The dollies will raise the pedals about an inch off the ground. 

    Wim Blees





  • 3.  RE: Dollies on a spinet piano (in Australia)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-08-2025 12:14

    Liam,

    It's unfortunate that you live halfway around the world and not in my back yard. The problem you describe is common with spinets with no toe-blocks that connect the bottom of the leg to the main body of the piano. I have installed many "toe-blocks" on spinet pianos for churches and schools rather than install a commercial dolly. Those commercial dollies are awful as they have dangerous protrusions causing tripping, plus foot and ancle injuries, not to mention the extra real estate needed around the piano for placement.  I install the standard double or single rubber caster in the rear and a standard 1 ½" stemmed caster in the legs. The leg is connected to the main body via a flat steel bar connected to the bottom board. A small slit is made in the bottom sill to allow the steel bar to pass through and attach to the bottom board. This requires some cabinet and metalworking skills, but compactness and aesthetics are always appreciated.

    With this configuration, the piano can be "waltzed" around the house without concern that dolly protrusions will damage furniture and foot injury. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of such an installation. Contact me if you seek detailed information.

    roger@gablepiano.com



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    Roger Gable RPT
    Gable Piano
    Everett WA
    (425) 252-5000
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  • 4.  RE: Dollies on a spinet piano (in Australia)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-08-2025 14:59

    Liam, since you're only moving it occasionally from one room to the next, I would recommend that you get a furniture dolly from your local hardware store. There are inexpensive models that would make it easy for you to maneuver it through doorways etc. Just don't make the rookie mistake of catching the pedals on the dolly when you remove it. There are videos on youtube on how to move an upright piano with a furniture dolly (some are more helpful than others.). But two people can do it pretty easily.

    Image.png



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    Steven Rosenthal RPT
    Honolulu HI
    (808) 521-7129
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Dollies on a spinet piano (in Australia)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-09-2025 02:10

    The Illinois State Library has an old Baldwin Acrosonic spinet, with spindle legs, which somebody many years ago made a clever set of dollies for. It is simple and elegant, and requires very little extra footprint. They also reconfigured a way to attach the music rack which allows for a cover to be put on with no damage. 



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    Dwight D Denzer, RPT
    Dwight's Piano Works
    Springfield, IL
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Dollies on a spinet piano (in Australia)

    Posted 02-10-2026 01:52

    Thank you SO MUCH everyone for your replies - I meant to get back to everyone but life got in the way.

    Very interesting hear the different suggestions - it definitely gives me hope and faith that there's multiple ways of doing this.



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    Liam Dixon
    Chadstone VIC
    +61-423776915
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