4 Ways to Transport a Piano

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4 Ways to Transport a Piano
4 Ways to Transport a Piano

Video: 4 Ways to Transport a Piano

Video: 4 Ways to Transport a Piano
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Transporting a piano requires planning and effort. It is very heavy and its finish is very vulnerable to scratches, cuts and nicks. Even a small upright piano can weigh over 158kg, and grand pianos can easily weigh over 450kg. Also, older upright pianos tend to be much heavier, making them difficult to move. Follow these steps to move any piano safely and efficiently.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Moving a Piano Harpsichord

Move to Piano Step 1
Move to Piano Step 1

Step 1. Know your piano

The spinet piano is the smallest type of piano commonly seen in homes. Manufactured from the 1930s to the end of the 20th century, the spinet piano's compact size is due to very clever engineering of the internal mechanisms. Spine pianos are not very long, reaching about 90 cm and are usually 1.47 m long – the same as other types of upright pianos.

Despite their relatively small size, they typically weigh at least 136 kg, making moving them a tricky team effort

Move to Piano Step 2
Move to Piano Step 2

Step 2. Plan your route from start to finish before you start moving the piano and communicate it to everyone who is helping you move it

  • Using a tape measure, check that the harpsichord will fit through each door or opening it needs to pass through.
  • If the piano is being moved from the house by a moving truck, open the truck and leave all ramps in place before moving the piano. Also, move the piano before any other lighter furniture so you can put it in place.
  • For safety reasons, it is recommended that one person be distributed for every 45kg of piano. You may have more people helping than is strictly necessary; in that case, extra people can help in other ways, such as opening doors and taking over if someone starts to get frazzled.
Move to Piano Step 3
Move to Piano Step 3

Step 3. Prepare the piano

Lock the harpsichord and keyboard cover (if present). Wrap the piano in thick blankets or special blankets and use masking tape to secure the blankets around the piano. This will prevent deformation of the finish and corners.

Move to Piano Step 4
Move to Piano Step 4

Step 4. Move the piano

The (relatively) low weight of a harpsichord piano makes it easy to move. Using whatever help you feel is necessary, have each person lift a different part of the piano at the same time. Make sure everyone is lifting the piano from below. In small, calculated steps, move the piano to its destination.

Never move the piano more than a few feet without stopping to make sure you are actually holding it

Method 2 of 4: Moving a Studio or Vertical Piano

Move to Piano Step 5
Move to Piano Step 5

Step 1. Know your piano

One of the most common types of piano today is the upright. Both are typically about 1.47 meters long, and despite the differences, both the upright and studio pianos can be moved using basically the same method.

  • "Studio" pianos, smaller than upright ones, weigh between 180 and 270 kilograms.
  • The monstrous upright pianos can weigh 300 kilos or more, reaching up to half a ton.
  • The center of gravity of a studio piano is also lower than that of a grand upright piano, being about 1.2 meters high, in contrast to the upright piano, which is approximately 1.5 meters.
Move to Piano Step 6
Move to Piano Step 6

Step 2. Plan your route

Start by clearing a path to your destination and measure all entries to ensure the piano fits them.

  • If you are transporting the piano to a moving truck, leave the ramp in place beforehand.
  • Try to get one person for every 45kg of the piano.
  • Make sure each person transporting the piano is wearing rough leather gloves and, if possible, weight lifting belts to help prevent a back injury.
Move to Piano Step 7
Move to Piano Step 7

Step 3. Prepare the piano

Unlike a spinet piano, these models are much heavier to be transported without a forklift. Once you have locked the piano up and wrapped it in blankets and tape, move the forklift to one end of the piano and, with the help of your staff, gently tilt it onto the forklift.

  • Get as many people as possible to support the piano behind the forklift, support their weight to keep it balanced. This is an especially important point to remember with large upright pianos, as they tend to be quite heavy.
  • Don't let gravity do the work for you; move the piano smoothly using labor from start to finish.
Move to Piano Step 8
Move to Piano Step 8

Step 4. Move the piano

Ask your group to support you according to their center of gravity, and take them slowly using the forklift to their destination.

  • If the piano is too long to fit through the door on the forklift, it will have to be lifted slowly. When he finally walks through the door, make sure he is firmly on the forklift before moving him.
  • The correct way to lift any object is to squat down, keep your back straight, and lift your legs. Make sure everyone who is helping you move knows how to lift an object this way.
  • If someone loses their balance on the piano, shout "Stop!" and ask everyone to lower the bass. Make any necessary adjustments on the forklift or ask your team to reorganize and try again.

Method 3 of 4: Moving a Grand Piano

Move to Piano Step 9
Move to Piano Step 9

Step 1. Know your piano

A grand piano is bass and bass, which improves its sound over an upright piano, but also makes it take up a lot more space. For this reason, grand pianos are rarely seen in private homes.

Grand pianos, like upright ones, are divided into "small" grand pianos, which can weigh around 220 kg, to standard grand pianos, and finally "concert" grand pianos that can weigh up to 590 kg and measure more than 2.7 meters in diameter. However, moving a piano of any size requires the same basic steps

Move to Piano Step 10
Move to Piano Step 10

Step 2. Plan your route

As always, clearing a path and taking the height and width of the place are the first steps to transporting a piano correctly.

  • Because of the grand piano's volume, it's usually moved from the back, so make sure that the doors you intend to pass the piano through are tall enough for it not only to pass but have several inches to spare.
  • If the piano is too big to fit inside a door several inches wide, professional help will be needed.
Move to Piano Step 11
Move to Piano Step 11

Step 3. Prepare the piano

The Grand Piano is Much More Complicated to Transport Than an Upright The safest way to move a grand piano (and the one that professionals use) is to carry it on a load-bearing plate on wheels. Find as many people as possible to help you and lift the piano's bass corner and unscrew (or remove) its foot. Gently lower the piano and secure the removed leg in blankets. Then, with the help of those around you, put blankets and ribbons on the rest of the piano.

  • You can try renting a bearing plate if you don't have one.
  • Make sure the top of the piano and the keyboard cover are locked.
Move to Piano Step 12
Move to Piano Step 12

Step 4. Move the piano

Carefully lift the piano from the tip upwards, and at the same time, lift the keyboard tip as evenly as possible. Once the piano is balanced on the bearing plate, it can be moved by pushing on the back while pulling on the front. Extra helpers should be on either side of the piano to help keep it upright in the event of bumps and wobbles.

  • The objective is to place the piano keyboard upside down on the board.
  • Keep in mind that the piano is heavier on the bass end, which means that the center of gravity is probably closer to one end than the other.

Method 4 of 4: Moving the Piano Several Floors

Move to Piano Step 13
Move to Piano Step 13

Step 1. Seek professional help

The safest way to transport a piano on stairs is to hire moving professionals. A piano's large size, immense weight and undefined center of gravity makes moving it a very difficult task for those who are not experts.

Move to Piano Step 14
Move to Piano Step 14

Step 2. Use whatever equipment you can

Visit a rental equipment store and talk to an employee experimenting with the size and weight of your piano to help decide how best to move it.

  • A forklift specifically for furniture or pianos that has handles can make transporting much easier.
  • Piano-specific bearing plates are also a viable option.
Move to Piano Step 15
Move to Piano Step 15

Step 3. Learn about the ladder

Know all the information you can about her age, design and composition. In some cases, the ladder may not be able to adequately support a 500 kg piano and four or five moving professionals at once; in that case, the change must be stopped immediately. It is better to know in advance the risks of transport, both to people and to the home.

Move to Piano Step 16
Move to Piano Step 16

Step 4. Support the bottom

If, for whatever reason, you decide not to seek professional help in moving your piano up stairs, remember that the lower end of the piano carries even more weight on a staircase than it does on flat ground.

  • Most people who help you move the piano should hold 50% of the bottom of the piano at all times to help keep it steady. However, no one should be directly behind the piano, without much room to step back, as a person's slip could mean a fatal accident, in which the person would be crushed by the weight of the piano.
  • Make sure everyone can easily go to one side if they lose control of the piano.
Move to Piano Step 17
Move to Piano Step 17

Step 5. Move slowly

Taking regular breaks to readjust and catch your breath is vital for moving the piano up stairs – rather than on flat ground. Plan to stop at each new step, set the piano carefully, and make sure you're holding it correctly to proceed to the next step. By being methodical from start to finish, you'll gain stability when picking up the piano and reduce the risk of injury.

Move to Piano Step 18
Move to Piano Step 18

Step 6. Be careful when releasing the piano

Every time you lower it, even if it's on a forklift or rolling plate, it might have to be turned over to get around a corner. Some strong people with a good sense of balance can help bend you. Just make sure everyone has the space they need and that their feet are firmly on the ground.

Tips

  • Always move the piano from the back, not sideways.
  • Wrap a piano in plastic if it is moved outside to prevent possible damage from rainwater.
  • Communication is vital. Speak loudly, clearly and often to carry the piano safely.
  • If you are transporting the piano in a truck, be sure to securely secure it to the vehicle to prevent damage.
  • Always use more labor than you think you will need.
  • Anyone who needs to rest should say so a few seconds before everyone else puts down the piano at the same time.

Notices

  • Unlike upright pianos, it is generally not recommended that hobbyists attempt to move a grand piano of any size, as carrying it requires a very steady hand and an understanding of inertia. Grand pianos are particularly prone to being damaged during transport because of their large size and dimensions. If you need to move a grand piano yourself, make sure the people next to you are reasonably fit and well rested before moving.
  • As mentioned above, moving a piano between stairs is also a job for professionals. Only do the work yourself if you have a good reason not to hire outside help.
  • Don't push a piano around its casters. This can damage your piano and almost certainly the floor.
  • Never try to catch a falling piano. If the piano becomes unbalanced and falls, move out of the way. You could be seriously injured or even killed if the piano falls on top of you.

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