Why Did The Piano Mover Open A Woodshop?

"Photo of a woodworking workshop with various tools and equipment, including a table saw, workbenches, and wood pieces in progress. The space has a concrete floor, high ceilings, and a partially open garage door.

Because we couldn’t find it, so we built it!

The great thing about having a niche business is having the ability to be the true expert in your field and to provide a service that other businesses have overlooked.

The not so great thing about having a niche business is the limited choice of equipment needed to get the job done.

At Modern Piano we’ve learned a lot over the years. Watching our crews move pianos through tight spaces, up or down endless stairways, or even pushing them down busy streets in downtown locations, makes it look like we’ve conquered any situation. If we could just find the quality equipment we were looking for, we’d be set!

Our solution? Reverse engineer our existing equipment. Use our experience and expertise to pinpoint weaknesses and create a better product. How in the world does a group of piano movers do that? Hire a Master Carpenter, of course! And buy lots of woodworking tools!

First things first… what we didn’t like about the current products we were purchasing.

 

                                   Too many areas of weak joints and second rate wood.

Close-up photo of a wooden piano moving board, showing the corner construction with bolts and fabric straps.

Close-up photo of a wooden piano moving board with metal bolts and handles, placed on a plywood workbench

 

 

 HOW WE DID IT BETTER.

Fewer joints, wood glue with decking screws and African mahogany wood provide the perfect combination of flexibility and strength.

Close-up photo of a wooden piano moving board, showing detailed joinery and a bolt for securing the board.

Side view photo of a wooden piano moving board, displaying the bolts and fabric strap attachments along its length.

Next up… 9’ piano boards. Why? The end of the board can become weak due to the length. A typical 9’ board is attached to the frame as two separate pieces and the frame is the only thing holding it together. These boards are made for very large, very heavy, often very expensive pianos. Strength is imperative.

HERE’S HOW WE MADE IT BETTER.

Using a Rabbet cut to reinforce the joint on the end pieces, we’re able to construct a board that has more strength and more stability even before it’s attached to the frame

 

The joints are 1st glued together with wood glue.

Close-up photo of a wooden workbench in a workshop, showing a metal plate labeled 'MODERN PIANO' attached to the wood. Various tools and equipment, including a vacuum and glue, are visible in the background.

 

Now we’re ready to attach it to the frame with wood glue.

Photo of a piece of plywood on a workbench with several screws partially drilled in. An electric sander and other tools are visible on the left side of the workbench."

          

            Then we reinforce with brads

Close-up photo of a pneumatic nail gun on a wooden workbench, alongside a piece of plywood marked with a measuring tape. The setup is prepared for woodworking in a workshop.

 

At the end of the day, after a lot of this….

Photo of a busy woodworking workshop with various tools and equipment on workbenches, including drills, clamps, and wood pieces. Shelves with additional tools and materials are visible in the background.
 

 

And a lot of this….

Photo of a workbench in a woodworking workshop with various tools and clamps securing wood pieces. The bench is covered with sawdust and features tools such as hammers, drills, and measuring instruments.

 

We have this….

Photo of several stacked wooden piano moving boards with metal plates, labeled 'MODERN PIANO,' arranged on a green dolly in a workshop. The background shows various woodworking tools and materials

 

And then we do this….

Photo of a large roll of gray fabric on a wooden workbench in a workshop.

 

To get this….

Photo of multiple wooden piano moving boards standing upright in a workshop. The boards are covered with gray fabric on one side and have fabric handles for carrying.

 

Which is why we’re the best at this…

Photo of a man standing next to an upright piano wrapped in protective moving blankets and secured with straps on a piano dolly. The man is smiling and dressed in a green shirt and black shorts, with trees and a brick building in the background.

Climate Controlled Moving Trucks

Learn More

Piano Valuation Coverage Available

Learn More