>Cutting it out won't work. Pretty sure that Bolduc will need the end of ribs >in tact where they fit into the case notches to get the thickness right. In >some ways it was a lot easier when I built them from scratch. I think the best advice so far was from Ron Overs. Scribe a uniform distance in from the rim all around and chisel away the panel edge joint. You'll do less damage to the inner rim finish this way too. Another thing you might try is pressing the board out with clamps. Lay a plank on edge across the underside of the rib ends along the straight side. This is the clamp caul to press the ribs up, so it should be wide enough to extend below the rim edge when it's against the ribs. Clamp some scrap lumber and a pad of some sort along the top of the rim to protect the finish. This is the other clamp caul. Put on a couple of big F clamps so the jaw is on the top caul, and the screw on the bottom one. Tighten alternately until something gives, then chase it around the rim by leapfrogging clamps and cauls until you get enough of it loose enough to remove by the usual prying and whacking. Since the underside caul will be spanning maybe three ribs at a time, It spreads the load out some and makes it slightly more likely that the joint will break before the ribs do. Also, it's a controlled but constant and heavy pressure that will let you pound around some while the pressure's on to encourage separation. It's easier, and I think more likely to work than heat and lethal chemistry. I've done it once, and it worked great - but I might have just got lucky. Might be worth a try. Ron N
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