45inch studio upright Baldwin Hamilton

by Trina
(Boise, ID)

We are moving the piano from Boise to the Bay area. While we accept that this adventure may well produce some very comical film footage of otherwise intelligent people attempting something none of them have ever done before, we would like the piano to reach its destination in tact and usable. Our biggest obvious obstacles and challenges are the 5-6 steps up the porch of the house the piano is going into. this is a wide porch with what appears to be wide turning radius @ the top of the steps, however I do not have exact measurements.
Idea: using a board strapped to bottom of paino with heavy duty ratcheting tie down and using heavy plastic sheeting on steps to create a sort of conveyor belt type surface.
Question: is this a reasonable approach and if so what advise can you provide to make this go more smoothly? ie: how many people do we need? any moving equipment we may be able to rent to make this easier? Should we leave rubber wheel casters on for this or remove them?
we are planning for many blankets and cardboard to pad and protect piano and will remove whatever parts we are able to decrease weight.
Any tips, pointers and ideas welcome. We wish this to go as smoothly as possible while at the same time we anticipate unseen and unplanned for challenges and would like to minimize these as much as possible.


reply

You may be able to use 3 men to lift it up:

2 at the front facing each other and one on the bottom. Use blankets on the steps to prevent damage to the them or the piano.

if you use the board:

You will need a stop length of 2" x 2" on the top edge of the board to push against.

Leave the castors on... Although even they can mark polished floors.

Use plenty of blankets on the steps and top and bottom.

If the piano lid overlaps the sides, consider using small wooden blocks wrapped in cloth wedged between the strap and the side of the piano so as not to crack the overhanging lid.

If you cannot find pro piano wheels, and end up using furniture shifting dollies designed for internal use... make a path out of boards. you will get into trouble using small wheels on rough pathways.

3 people should do it... with the piano strapped to the board, pull it up to the bottom of the steps. 2 of you face each other at the steps end of the piano, and lift up from the the lifting handle on the back, and under the keyboard at the front. the third man can assist with a little push from the back.

repeat one step at a time till the piano on its board can be pushed.

Rushing out long distance so I apologise for any typos.

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