Soundboard question

[Richard Brekne]

Hi

    I would seriously question whether a controlled "compression set" is
    possible.  Compression set implies damage to the panel at the
    cellular level.

Sure a controlled compression set is possible. Just as controlled drying 
out of the panel is possible. Compression set is when the elastic limit 
is of the wood is exceeded so that the dimension(s) of the wood becomes 
permanently lessened. The extent to which this implies "damage" depends 
really on which strength characteristic you are referring too.


     Whether, to what degree and where in the panel that it experiences
    compression set is idiosyncratic and will depend to a large degree
    on the specific characteristics of each one of the flitches that
    make up the entire panel. 

Of course.


    Also, damage to the wood panel at the cellular level doesn't mean
    that the panel will be less reactive to changes in RH.  The wood
    will still take on and lose moisture.

The ability of wood to take on and lose moisture is not the same thing 
as being reactive to changes in RH.  A piece of wood that has 
experienced compression set by definition can not experience the same 
amount of change in dimension (in the direction of the compression set) 
as the same piece of wood before compression set has set in.

None of this really has to do with my original question tho. 

Cheers
RicB