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Repurposing an old piano

Posted by Lane Martin on August 25, 2017 at 3:10pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I've got an old (1908) upright piano downstairs that rarely gets played. I'm kicking around the idea of repurposing it. Obviously, there's plenty of wood in it for building other musical things. I'm wondering if I could use the strings for gits, hammered dulcimers, etc. Any other ideas out there. I know some of you have used items formerly belonging to a piano in at least one build.

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Replies

  • the anonymous pick August 30, 2017 at 10:19am

    Image result for converted piano

  • Paul Craig August 29, 2017 at 4:05pm

    Go for it.

  • JL August 28, 2017 at 9:18am

    First question: is it still playable decent piano?

    lots of new piano students are looking for one at home at a price their parents can afford to gamble on, and use that money to buy cbg wood and supplies (gamble that their child will stick with it long enough to be worth the investment in a home piano...)

    • Cause the Blue rat > JL August 28, 2017 at 9:55am

      Ever try to move a piano? Be a lot less stress in buying a cheap electric keyboard. Takes up less space in a closet when the kids decide it's not what they want. And electric ones are easier to sell. Another thing to take in consideration. Most modern houses have an open floor plan. Pianos are loud. There's no volume knob.

      The ebony will also get you in hot water.

      The scariest real life story about a piano I've heard to date. There was a grand piano in a large two story house. The house caught on fire. The sound board was compromised. Then broke. The force of the strings flung it threw the second story. Through the roof. It landed in the front yard. Luckily no one was hit.  

      • JL > Cause the Blue rat August 29, 2017 at 10:21am

        Urban legend disproved by the Mythbusters, the heat deforms the strings and they lose all tension long before the cast iron frame they are bolted onto begins to feel the heat.

        • Cause the Blue rat > JL August 31, 2017 at 9:20pm

          augh! Blasted science and all that. : ) But I like this urban legend. 

          • Grandpa > Cause the Blue rat August 31, 2017 at 9:51pm
            Bugger the sciece. Rat"s story was way better than science! Plus, it coulda happened.
  • Grandpa August 26, 2017 at 4:51pm

    I think the best repurposing of a piano I ever saw was when a safe, or a guy, or some other large object crushed a piano, and Harpo would emerge with the sound board, upright it, and play a harp tune. Youngsters might never have seen it, but the old folks have. LOL.

  • Kigar August 26, 2017 at 4:46pm
    I asked about it here once before, there is always a free one on Craig's. Seems like a lot of work to load and haul. But if is already in the basement then go for it. The Sound board can be a few hundred pounds so be careful taking it apart. The other interesting part besides wood and the keys to me was the tuning pins.
  • Titch the Clown August 25, 2017 at 10:20pm

    The Ivory on the keys is something that looks great to reuse but can get you into trouble if you try to send it without CITES certification across borders. Not usually worth the bother.

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