Grandfather clocks are one of the most beautiful items in the household. Generally people pass it on to the next generation. It changes the entire appearance of the house where it is placed. If you are planning to move to or from Kolkata with your grandfather clock then this guide will definitely prove to be very useful for you.
You have definitely got the most beautiful and the most difficult thing to be moved from your old place to the new once. You should hire packers and movers in Kolkata to help you out with their professional techniques or you can do it yourself with utmost care and safety.
It is such a prized possession for you that you can’t even bear the thought of parting from it.
It is important to understand that freestanding pendulum clocks have special weight-driven mechanisms which are delicate to be lifted and moved.
Read this step-by-step guide to find many good tips for moving a grandfather to a new home –
It includes all essential steps to preparing, disassembling, packing, transporting, and setting a grandfather in the new home.
Things to do before moving a grandfather clock
• Assess the condition of the clock
There should not be any preexisting structural damage so it is important to inspect your clock before starting with the process of packing. Check the integrity of its wooden case and the glass elements. Even if there are small cracks then also it can create problems in transit. Check if any of the screws and keys are missing from the clock’s current condition.
• Disassemble it carefully
These clocks have a sturdy look but still they are very delicate. It is important to make it safe for transportation and then start with the process of packing. It is very important to disassemble it first and then pack its parts for the move.
• Wear gloves
Make sure you and your helpers wear gloves while disassembling it otherwise any kind of dust or oil will stain the finely polished surface and glass elements.
• Prepare your packing supplies
One of the main things to transport your clock with utmost security is the packing material you use to pack it. Use bubble wraps, packing paper, moving blankets and packing tape to pack your clock. Make sure you use good quality of packing material to keep your valuable item intact even after the move.
Steps to disassemble your grandfather clock
1. Step 1 – the first thing that you need to do is to stop the pendulum of your clock gently using your hands
2. Step 2 – make sure that the chains of your clock don’t get tangled throughout the process. Otherwise you will have to spend an extra hour to untangle them.
3. Step 3 – you can place thick cardboard pieces between the cables of the clock and then firmly push them against the pulleys.
4. Step 4 – pull up the weights approximately three-quarters of the entire length. Make sure you don’t pull the weights all the way up to avoid damage to the chain sprockets. Then, secure the individual sets of chains by inserting twist ties below the sprockets. This step removes the danger of the chains falling off their sprockets during transport.
5. Step 5 – now remove the weighs in three steps. Make sure you unlock the weighs using caution.
6. Step 6 – put the side panel down that takes you to the pendulum then you will have to go inside the clock to take hold of the pendulum guide then lift the pendulum and unlock it from the leader.
7. Step 7 – you will have to secure the guide of the pendulum using packing paper and bubble wrap.
8. Step 8 – remove all the glass shelves and decorations and set them aside for packing them separately
9. Step 9 – change the position of the access panel and lock it or tape it. This step is vital, the glass windows may come loose during transport and then it will prove to be a huge mess. Close up and lock or tape in place any doors you may have left open on your clock.
Ways to pack the your grandfather
Step 1. Packing paper is an ideal option to pack the pendulum of the clock, then you can wrap it with a furniture blanket. You can also use the blanket that we use at our home but make sure that the material is soft and not abrasive like a woolen blanket. Then use packing tape to secure the bundle and place the protected pendulum in a right sized cardboard box.
Step 2: Pack all the clock weights individually with the help of wrapping paper and as the very first layer of protection. Then use furniture blanket as the second layer. Make sure you don’t wrap all the weighs together to avoid metal-to-metal contact. Place the weights into a cardboard box whose bottom has already been padded with paper.
Step 3. Position an appropriately-sized cardboard cut-out to cover the frontal glass part of your grandfather clock, and then tape that protective piece in place. Cover other glass sections with additional cardboard pieces and the place the bubble wraps over the box and the tape it to cover them in place
Step 4. The cover the disassembled tall-case clock using furniture blankets. Those protective materials will absorb any direct hits, bumps as well as shocks and vibrations in transit.
How to move the grandfather clock safely
• Never take the risk of moving the grandfather clock on your own. Make sure you have at least 2 other helpers, you can ask any of your family members or your friends to help you out before you begin the process.
• Always furniture dolly to move the disassembled parts of the clock because they are super heavy to be lifted from your home to the moving vehicle.
• Keep your tall-case clock upright at all times and throughout the process. Some models of antique furniture clocks are prone to damage if they are placed on their sides.
• Make sure the long case clock is perfectly immobilized inside the moving vehicle. It would be better if you use straps to tie it in the moving vehicle.
• Place the grandfather clock in the new home, and then re-assemble it using the above mentioned disassembling steps in reverse.
It is definitely not a cake walk to pack and move a pendulum form one place to other. You have to do a lot of hassle to make it successful. It would be appropriate to hire movers and packers in Kolkata to move your dearest grandfather clock safely.