Is it reasonably possible for one person to remove caster cups, roll a wheeled baby grand a few feet out of the way on a hardwood floor, and then roll back and replace caster cups?

  • tenacious_mucus@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    Technically yes, if you can lift each corner of the piano high enough AND kick the cup out all by yourself. Lift with your legs, not your back!

    The real challenge would be reversing this operation- lift and sliding cup back in place with a foot. I worked for a piano shop long ago and this was basically the same method we would use even to completely remove legs to tilt them up onto the sleds to put on trucks. I think we could do it with just 2 people. Also make sure the castors wont damage the floor…pianos aint light, and those metal castors arent forgiving!

    • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.worksOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      Thank you. Yes, how do I lift it back up to replace cups without it just sliding away? How does one make sure the casters won’t damage the floor?

      • tenacious_mucus@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Oh, right, didnt think about it trying to roll when replacing the cups. Maybe try a make-shift wheel chock with some towels or wood wedge, really anything you could jam under the other wheels.

        Are you sure the wheels will even damage the floor? Is this a stage, like normal black stage deck? If so, you’ll be fine. If not, and the hardwood is like a really nice finish or dents/scratches easily then there’s likely to be a risk. How was the piano brought in?

        I didnt think to ask if the castors were plastic or metal? If they are plastic, you’ll be good. I was thinking about the wide metal castors ive seen a lot. If they are metal, unfortunately i dont have any perfect answers- you’ll have to get creative, i guess. Cardboard, scrap carpet pieces, basically anything to buffer under the castor. But nothing you’d want to reuse ‘cause the castors might damage your makeshift padding.