Milestone

[David Ilvedson]

You know you should be showing us some photos...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 11/2/2006 4:40:46 AM
Subject: Re: Milestone



>> Two soundboards at once (concurrently), or two soundboards in a row (one 
>> after the other)? 

>Overlapped. After the last of a given rib radius was glued on 
>one board, the clamp moved to the next. The big radius had the 
>most ribs, so the process slowed down considerably toward the 
>end as I did something else, like chiseling glue squeeze out, 
>for the 10-15 minutes between clamp moves. Another big radius 
>clamp would have been really handy, but it's not like this 
>comes up that often.


>>If at the same time, you must have at least four or 
>> six pneumatic presses - and the presses must have interchangeable cauls? 
>> Yes?

>Five pneumatic clamps, each with a fixed radius.


>> I usually reserve a full day to rib a board - not that it takes that 
>> long of course. I find that I do lots of other unrelated tasks while 
>> glue dries, etc. I guess I value the luxury of having the time to take a 
>> deep breath and concentrate on what I am doing - maybe I'm just paranoid 
>> of screwing something up.

>I was paying attention as hard as I could.


>> How many times did you check to be sure that the right rib #1, etc. was 
>> being glued to the correct panel????

>I did all that beforehand. When I cut the ribs out, I lay them 
>in the rim mortises as I go. When I'm done, I number them. As 
>I'm locating them on the panel, I mark and number the position 
>of the ends, so I don't turn the ribs wrong end to when I 
>install them. With two pianos going (Fischer and Baldwin), the 
>ribs were numbered B1, B2, F1, F2, etc. A partially sighted 
>lame ape could have gotten them in the right place after all 
>that, so I figured I had a pretty good chance.


>> This sounds great. Congrats. I'm just trying to picture it. I'm afraid 
>> of what mistakes I would make if I tried it!  ;-)
>> 
>> Terry Farrell

>My only screw-up (that I've noticed so far) was hitting a long 
>rib with the air pressure too quickly and having it bow 
>sideways (it was pinned toward the ends) as it skated on the 
>wet glue. I straightened it out, cleaned it up, and was a 
>little more cautious with the valve after that, and there were 
>no more surprises. You know, shop stuff.
>Ron N