Replacing castors on upright Piano

[Vic]

As my studio build, which has been going on for nearly three years, is starting it's final leg towards the finishing line, I have started thinking about my upright piano and how I would like to move it between rooms but of course the old castors would do terrible things to the newly laid floor.

So I am looking at replacing the castor with something new.

I have found these online instructions, has anyone attempted this task before?

http://www.stevespianoservice.com/Free- ... asters.htm

Vic

[Chris H]

upright_dolly.jpg

here are a few ideas that employ better castors,

http://www.pianomovingsupplies.com/prod ... ano-dolly/

or Upright Piano Dolly
http://www.pljansen.com/UprightPianoDolly.php

[stosostu]

I'm a way off finishing my studio yet, but I will face a similar issue with my baby grand, eventually. It has the old metal wheel castors and I was just going to replace them with some rubber/plastic wheeled ones. However, a dolly, triangular in my case, may be a better solution.

[Chinagraf]

Bunnings have a range of various sized small rubber tyred castors that from memory should fit.

[Chris H]

At the school where i work they have the 3 wheeled "cups" that are placed under each leg of the grand piano.
Something like in this pic

Castors .jpg

[stosostu]

They look excellent, Chris, I'll have to see if I can find some, maybe the bigger piano shops?

[Vic]

Yes, these ones look perfect for me.

http://www.pljansen.com/UprightPianoDolly.php

I just spoke to a piano man (yes, someone made out of pianos) and he confirmed that they are great and make moving the piano nice and easy.

So, now the hunt, where to find them in Australia

Vic

[Chris H]

They look excellent, Chris, I'll have to see if I can find some, maybe the bigger piano shops?

I will let you know tomorrow where we got ours.

[Vic]

I have been passed on this supplier for permanent piano dollies and also for a whole range of piano tuning supplies.

http://www.parkepianostrings.com.au

Vic

[Vic]

Just waiting on a price for the permanent dolly's for my upright. Will update this post with the price and also some pics of the process of fitting them if anyone is interested.

Vic

[Vic]

I finally got this done today. 2 dolly purchased from http://www.parkepianostrings.com.au (quiet expensive, 400 for the pair, but they are so smooth, move really easily) and the install was only $100.

Here are some pictures of them being installed today. Tomorrow we move it out into the studio and give it a tune. It's an old upright Beale. It's in great condition and is about to get a nice service.

Anyway, thought I would share as it's the first time I've seen a piano lying flat and the trolley he had to tilt it over made it a one man job. Right tools for the job.

Luckily our nearest town, Narrandera, has a great piano tuner who trained in the Beale factory for some time so he understands their patented tuning system.

Vic

P.S - Old castors (beautiful things) had to come off as they were just a fraction lower, but now they make nice ornaments.

[Vic]

Some more pics.