Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Moving an upright piano with no casters...

Good morning everyone, i am in a bit of a pickle. I have a one year old cristofori 42" continental style upright that I would like to move into the area of my house that has hardwood floors. In the absence of casters there are these block looking things that I've nver seen before. Is there something I should put under my piano to keep from damaging my floors or is the absence of casters really nothing to worry about in this case?

This really goes without saying, but I plan on hiring movers for this.

There was a lengthy thread here not long ago about the functionality and durability of piano casters. http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1971853/1.html

I think the consensus was that casters on pianos are designed more for very short moves and not as furniture moving dolly application.

Since your piano does not have casters, you could use a furniture dolly with rubber wheels (which is likely what the piano movers will use) that would not damage or scratch your hardwood floor.

Good luck.

Rick

Thanks Rick, but I'm talking about while the piano is sitting on the floors, after it's moved. I'm not interested in casters or their functionality since they are absent on my piano. I'm expecting the movers to do exactly what they've been getting paid to do and am not worried about them damaging the floors. I'm worried about the weight of the piano over time sinking into the floors....this is where caster cups come in, but idk what I'm supposed to do. I think I'm the only person who has a piano without casters.

Okay, sorry, I misunderstood your thread and what you were actually asking...

Forget everything I said.

You can buy small, round rubber pads for such an application. Or, see if the regular piano caster cups might work.

Rick

There is some misunderstanding about the words "Caster" and "Caster cup".

Casters are wheels on the bottom of (most) pianos.
Caster Cups are small protective saucers which protect sensitive floors from the damage by the weight on the casters (wheels).

I think some people mistakenly call caster cups "casters" because they are thinking of "coasters" (a small mat or plate under your drink).

Cheers!

*giggle*

Now I want coasters with casters.

freakout, I would try an area rug large enough to place both the piano and the bench on. The constant sliding of the bench and feet around the pedals can, over time, wear marks into a wood floor. Often the rug will move with the piano, making it easy to slide away for cleaning and servicing.

If there are permanent feet (instead of wheels) on he bottom of your piano, the you are actually in luck. Many people mistakenly think that the little decorative wheels were made to roll across their beautiful hardwoods...people are less likely to make that mistake when there are no wheels.

Sitting on your floors, provided they are hardwood and not a soft wood like pine, nothing will happen. If you want caster cups, then you will need to carefully measure the size of the feet and then find the right match just like any other.

Caster cups are pretty rare among my upright customers because they are rarely needed.

That got my imagination going...I'm now thinking of floating coasters. Air hockey pucks look a lot like drink coasters so can you imagine the puck with a drink floating on an air table with me?

Thanks for the help everybody, but as it turns out, I'll be moving it to a different spot in the house. Now the problem is finding a piano mover who will come out for 10 minutes of work at a decent price. I really miss my old piano which I could have just rolled across the room...

And what price would you consider decent?

"...Now the problem is finding a piano mover who will come out for 10 minutes of work at a decent price..."

You might ask the dealer, from whom you purchased the piano, for help. They already have movers on staff or on call, and they might be able to help you sometime when they're in the neighborhood.

Don't forget a good tip for the movers, in your decent price.