How to Dismantle a Piano

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Get a piano.

   Habitat for Humanity, Thrift Stores, want ads.
   
   All have pianos for free to several hundred dollars.
   
   Stick to the free ones.
   
   We went to Habitat and said we could take one of their three pianos away and wouldn't charge them.
   
   They smiled and asked if we wanted two.
   
   Their prices were $200, but they had been there six months.
2. 2

   Step 2: Get it somewhere that you can take it apart.

   My back porch is on a concrete slab, and I had a small tractor with a bucket to take it off the float.
   
   Remember, this thing is heavy! We had to put it on the trailer/float with Habitat's forklift.
   
   It usually takes four to six strong people to lift it a couple of feet. , You can paint, patch, repair cosmetic things later.
   
   Don't tip it over.
   
   That comes much later.
   
   Note that it is several major parts/sections. 1) frame, cover, wheels. 2) keys and hammers. 3) sound/wire frame. , It will not be a piano unless you put in an electric keyboard.
   
   More later. , Pull out the pins of the hinges or the screws, release the clamps, or press the releases.
   
   You want to take these off neatly, because they will go back on. , Release the hammer assembly.
   
   A couple of screws or bolts, and the entire thing should come out. ,, All those strings are really, really tight.
   
   First loosen or remove all the strings.
   
   All of them, and so loose that they start to sag.
   
   This is very important. , Cut some notches out of the frame so it would slide out when the piano was on its back. , The Piano now weighs about 150 pounds and two people can manage it or slide it around.
3. 3

   Step 3: Look it all over.

4. 4

   Step 4: The objective is to have a good looking prop that you can move.

5. 5

   Step 5: Take off the top cover

6. 6

   Step 6: the "knee board"

7. 7

   Step 7: and the front.

8. 8

   Step 8: Lift out all the keys (you may want to put them back in if you want the piano to look like a piano later).

9. 9

   Step 9: Take out any other obvious parts that keep you from getting close to the big "harp" in the back.

10. 10

    Step 10: Do NOT unbolt the harp yet.

11. 11

    Step 11: Remove the rear sound board and harp by taking all the bolts out (about an hour) and sliding it up behind the keyboard frame/shelf.

12. 12

    Step 12: Take the harp to the junkyard.

Detailed Guide

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