Dowels through ribs

[Ron Nossaman]

>On the previous couple of boards, we used screws through buttons, but 
>glued on the buttons. We left the screws in.

This is my preference.


>This copied the original system (Steinway). On the current board, a M&H 
>AA, it was originally screwed through the ribs, then doweled. I guess I 
>don't understand how the rib would be weakened, if the hole is filled with 
>a dowel glued in with good glue. And would a plug be better? How about a 
>spruce plug?
>
>Thanks for your thoughts,
>Bob Davis

If you drill a 6.35mm (0.25") hole in a 25.4mm (1") rib, you've taken 25% 
of the strength out of the rib. Plugging the hole won't restore the 
continuity of the long grain where the hole is. Best to just not make the 
hole in the first place.

Ron N