Making Music Mobile - Piano Castors Do The Job

By Author: Mark Farrell
Total Articles: 56
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Pianos are large and bulky making them unwieldy to move around regularly. While in homes they are kept stationary, in concert halls and on stage, they are constantly mobile. Compared to other instruments, the piano is huge, and fragile, making it delicate cargo. It is therefore advisable to fix castors onto a piano, not only to ensure smooth operation, but also to ensure a safe operation- for the instrument and the mover.

The ideal type of castors for pianos are the heavy-duty kind. A regular piano weighs approximately 300kg. This is however, an entirely rough estimate, as the weight of each piano depends on its construction. Grand pianos range between 250kg-500kg, while their lighter counterparts, the full size uprights and the average console or spinet weighs approximately 200kg-400kg, and 150kg-250kg respectively. Thus, it is safe to assume that pianos at a glance fall into the heavier category on the weight scale. While a heavy-duty dolly can transport it over a wide surface area, shifting a piano over a relatively smaller area would be easiest with piano castors.

It is a well-established fact that soft castors ...
... are great for hard floor surfaces, while the opposite is true for soft floor surfaces, such as carpets. Taking into account the heavy weight of a piano, experts believe that brass piano castors are best. These wheels are floor safe, and comfortably bear the whole weight of the piano. Experts further believe that the focus when fixing castors onto pianos should primarily be to provide maximum solidity, and elasticity to minimize damage to the instrument, as the piano is vibration sensitive, thus especially vulnerable during movement.

Double-wheeled rubber castors are also a favorite type of piano castors as they are durable, and versatile on a number of surfaces. These double-wheeled rubber castors are tough and provide excellent shock absorption during a long rough haul.

In as much as it is important to have piano castors installed on pianos, it is equally important to ensure proper and consistent maintenance. The degree of friction on these castors is comparatively more than regular castors, and should thus be lubricated and serviced regularly to ensure no friction exists between the wheels and pivots.

The benefit of installing piano castors is unmistakable. Apart from facilitating easier movement, they induce less or no strain on the workers, while considerably lowering the chances of mishaps and most importantly damage to the instrument. Since there are hosts of piano castors available on the market, it is best to consult experts, to ensure the one chosen supports the weight of the piano, and does not damage the floor.

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