Piano dontation/removal - un-tuned upright, not worth anything

KitKatChunki · 2024-04-01T14:00:48+00:00

Has anyone got any suggestions on what to do with an old upright? I've had it on marketplace, tried to donate it to a company called Millers online who say it would be more costly for them to remove and re-tune it than it is worth for them and BHF won't collect it. I'm out of ideas and really can't move it alone! Help!

Tereseta · 01/04/2024 15:02

Smash it up and take to the tip in several trips?

Original poster

KitKatChunki · 01/04/2024 15:03

@Tereseta Yes, I'm thinking that might be the only option, which seems so sad!
Also I have no idea how I will manage to smash it up - it's in a room surrounded by stuff and I can't move it alone.

OP posts:

tomorrowisanotherdate · 01/04/2024 15:04

contact your local schools and see if anyone wants it - they probably have a minibus they could collect it in

Wotchaz · 01/04/2024 15:08

If you do smash it be very very careful, the strings are held under a lot of tension and I wouldn’t like being in the way of them flying out if they’re all suddenly released.

But fundamentally I agree that you’re unlikely to find anyone that wants an old untuned upright.

InTheShallowTheShalalalalalalalow · 01/04/2024 15:08

Have you got a local dump shop? They often pick things up and sell them on as part of a local enterprise type thing.

PorkChopJohnson · 01/04/2024 15:15

We had this issue and decided to dismantle it. DH spent about a week watching YouTube tutorials on what to do. He took various bits off as per the tutorial, then it was light enough for the two of us to put it on its front. Then he had to loosen off the strings on the harp - that took bloody ages. Getting the harp out was the hardest part, and was "very much not like the tutorial." Getting it outside was hard as it was very heavy. We had a skip at the time but someone took it out of there for the metal. Then the last few pieces of wood were the heaviest. We didn't smash anything as it wasn't in the tutorial just unscrewed it.

lassingd · 01/04/2024 15:26

You might get lucky advertising it for free on Facebook, but end of day most old uprights have negative value due to the weight.

QueenOfWeeds · 01/04/2024 15:28

We had an unwanted piano in our outside area for EYFS - covered but obviously slightly exposed, so didn’t matter that it was untuned. The children loved it! I do recall that collection was a bit of a PITA though.

Original poster

KitKatChunki · 01/04/2024 15:43

PorkChopJohnson · 01/04/2024 15:15

We had this issue and decided to dismantle it. DH spent about a week watching YouTube tutorials on what to do. He took various bits off as per the tutorial, then it was light enough for the two of us to put it on its front. Then he had to loosen off the strings on the harp - that took bloody ages. Getting the harp out was the hardest part, and was "very much not like the tutorial." Getting it outside was hard as it was very heavy. We had a skip at the time but someone took it out of there for the metal. Then the last few pieces of wood were the heaviest. We didn't smash anything as it wasn't in the tutorial just unscrewed it.

Just wondering if any scrap metal guys might want it - although I'd have to have them in to get it out...

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CastlesinSpain · 02/04/2024 00:56

You could offer it to a local fete for a Piano Smashing competition. The world record is 1 minute 34.41 seconds.