Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
"John" writes:
When I was in the Scouts many years ago we used to get them given to us for
jumble sales - inevitably they didn't sell so we had piano smashing
competitions - to see which team could post the piano through a 1foot square
hole (IIRC). The frames would break with a sledge hammer. The piano wire was
a pest.

Smashing a piano can be quite dangerous without making it
safe first (releasing the tension on the strings). There's
around 25 tons force across the frame, and you don't want
that to let go in one bang by breaking the frame.
Even individual wires breaking can cause nasty injuries.

I broke one up as a teenager and there might be 25 tons of force but it
was not that dramatic when hit with a sedge hammer, 25 tons of force
with elastic bungy rope might be a different kettle of fish, and after
watching mythbusters snapping 1/4 steel wire even that was not that
dangerous
but it might be as well to loosen the strings first

--
Kevin R
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