Soundboard Compression & Cracks

Farrell mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
Sun, 10 Jun 2001 09:31:47 -0400


Take a compression-crowned soundboard that is not collapsed (still has some
crown) that also has a few cracks through which you can see daylight. How
can this be? The only thing that gives the board crown is the lateral
compression across the grain as the wood gained moisture after its initial
drying during construction. Now if you have daylight cracks in the board,
does this not mean the board is not under compressional forces? Or is it
that the inter-crack areas are still under compression from being glued to
the non-dimensionally changing ribs (relatively speaking)? But then why/how
is it that one area of the board can be under compression and an inch or two
away, the board is under tension????????

What is it about the soundboard that is soooooooooo interesting? Or is my
life just that dull?

Terry Farrell



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