[CAUT] Bringing the shop to the piano

[Willem Blees]

Although it is nice to have a "portable" shop to take to the pianos, 
(I have a three shelve Rubbermade cart to transport actions to my 
shop), whenever I did try to service a piano in a practice room, I 
have found that no matter how much stuff I take to a piano, inevitably 
I have to run back to my shop to get a tool, a piece of felt, a 
string, etc. 

So now I take the action back to my shop for cleaning, tightening 
screws, etc, and take only the tools I think I will need. The rest 
stays in my shop. I just consider it part of my job description to 
take five minute breaks to walk back to my shop to get what I need. 
It's good excersize. 

Wim  
Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA

Quoting "Ward & Probst, Inc" <wardprobst at wardprobst.com>:

> Sounds a lot like the unit Eldridge Travis did a mini tech on in
> Arlington
> in Arlington. His had an overhead fluorescent, air compressor, shop
> vac and
> other goodies. You might contact him to see if he has pictures. It
> was a
> very nice unit and he said he could pretty well set up shop anywhere
> in the
> school.
> DP
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
> Rob
> Goodale
> Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 3:33 PM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: [CAUT] Bringing the shop to the piano
> 
> 
> Have you ever gotten tired of lugging the action out of a practice
> room...
> or a class room, a studio or an ensemble room?  Then you drag it to
> the
> shop, (if your school has one), get it up on the bench, and do your
> work.
> Then you have to lug it back, regulate it in the piano, and still
> have
> service to perform on other parts of the instrument.
>  
> I have begun a significant project to resolve this age-old problem
> that has
> been plaguing piano technicians since the first music school opened
> in
> ancient Egypt over 3000 years ago.  I am currently in progress
> building a
> "port-a-shop", (working title).  The idea here is to build a sturdy
> portable
> work bench/mini shop designed specifically for the piano technician
> from the
> ground up- not just something modified.  I convinced the music
> department to
> foot the bill.
>  
> Designing, building, and assembly is being performed at my own shop
> on the
> opposite side of town.  I have purchased 1-1/2" x 2"steel from a
> local
> supplier and have completed the welding of the main frame work as of
> last
> night.  It is exceptionally strong and ridged.  This afternoon I
> intend to
> purchase four commercial-grade locking castors.  There are two
> surfaces, the
> top bench area for action work, and a lower level for a tool cabinet
> with
> drawers, supplies, and a small but tangible shop vac.  The hose will
> be made
> long enough to clean any piano without removing the machine.  A
> multi-outlet
> power strip will also be attached.  Only one main cord will need to
> be
> plugged for everything to work.  Accessories such as a heat gun,
> Dremel, or
> whatever will be instantly ready for use, even a built-in work light.
>  The
> top bench area will be made of 3/4" hard press board with poplar
> molding to
> protect the edges, and enough surface area to completely service any
> action
> on-sight.  With the steel frame work below the top will stay
> perfectly and
> permanently flat.  With two fixed and two swivel castors it should be
> easy
> to navigate anywhere within the music department.  In spite it's
> complexity
> and built-in features, this entire portable shop will only be about 5
> 1/2
> feet long by 24" wide.  It will easily fit against any hall way wall
> without
> being in the way and fit in any elevator.
>  
> When complete I can provide digital photographs.  I'm pretty excited
> about
> this, I think it will really prove to be a major asset.  More to
> come...
>  
> Rob Goodale, RPT
> Las Vegas, NV
> 
> 


Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA