Replacement Casters & New Tool

[John Ross]

Hi Terry,
It is the standard type. They don't want to spring for Darnell.
Regards,
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
piano.tech@ns.sympatico.ca

----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 11:18 PM
Subject: Re: Replacement Casters & New Tool


> I've been using the Darnell double-wheel casters. They seem pretty
> substantial. Is this the type that has been a problem? Or are the ones
> falling apart the standard supply-house type - the ones that "are approved
> by school boards", or some such rot?
>
> Terry Farrell
> Piano Tuning & Service
> Tampa, Florida
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joseph Alkana" <jfa19@IDT.NET>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 12:46 AM
> Subject: Re: Replacement Casters & New Tool
>
>
> >
> >
> > John Ross wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi List,
> > > I have had my second school, complain of the replacement double
> > > rubber wheel casters, splitting.
> > > The supplier tells me he has had no complaints from anyone else.
> > > The schools insist that there was no rough moving involved.
(Naturally)
> > > They had been installed less than a year before.
> > >
> > > Has anyone else had this problem?
> > >
> > > As a tie in with caster replacement. I found a wonderful tool that
> > > enlarges the cavity for the casters. It is called a Rotozip, spiral
saw.
> > > I don't like building up the caster height with the spacers, making it
> > > higher.
> > > Another tool I recently found, was a mini heat gun, by Ryobi, only
> > > $20 Cdn. I intend to use it where I previously used the small propane
> > > torch. It is 350W and gives heat up to 350C, and weighs .9lb.
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > John M. Ross,
> > > Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.
> >
> > John,
> > Thanks for the great tip on using the Rotozip. I've been wanting to try
> > one out but hadn't really come up with a use to justify the cost. Guess
> > that's all changed now. Any special set up or method you use?
> >
> > I, too, have had new castors split up on me this past year. Also the
> > facility engineers claim no rough treatment was perpetrated on the those
> > hapless instruments involved. I believe the castors came from APSCO.
> > Could be just a bad batch or something. Probably going to be hard to get
> > the suppliers to fess up to shoddy parts. Frankly, I think we're going
> > to see more of this in the future, but I digress pessimistically! Of
> > course, the best solution for pianos in an institutional setting is to
> > use a suitable piano truck intended to take greater abuse than the stock
> > wheels. If the party that owns the piano doesn't want to put up the
> > money for an adequate transport, then you can get the extra $$ to repair
> > same when the wheels come off again!
> >
> > Joseph Alkana
> >
>