K Anderson wrote: > I 've been finding new (to me) ways to use straightedges lately. I knew > about using them in key leveling, of course, and traveling hammers and > setting hammerline. Oh, yes, anytime checking for warpage, as with > keyslips. (Maybe there were more but they don't come readily to mind just > now) Recently I found a straightedge handy to see if the bridgetop was > really ready for the new capping material, and to see if the new cap was > as good as I hoped...then to see if my new bridgepins were filing down > to an acceptably consistent height. Then when stringing I used a 6-inch > steel ruler to doublecheck height & level of the front string length > (before the pressure bar). Next, I got out my nice straight 24-inch ruler > to see if the warped lid of the bench being rebuilt is getting any more > level with all that sanding, before applying new veneer... Now I'm > thinking of using it on the battered sides of the next piano in line, to > doublecheck for a nice level surface after sanding & before refinishing. > What other uses do you find for straightedges? The straightest straightedge is not a straightedge but rather a non-straightedge that is made to be straight. The non-straight straightedge in which I am referring is when you use a string for a straightedge. When this type of non-straightedge is pulled straight it becomes the straightest straightedge of them all! You can use this type of straightedge for straightening all kinds of non-straight things simply by pulling it tight so that it becomes straight. Examples for this kind of straightening include hanging hammers straight, checking for non-straight soundboards, (i.e. crown), by holing the straightened non-straightedge across the back of a soundboard, checking the straightness of a keyboard by straightening your straightedge across the keys, and many other straightening jobs. I hope you have it straight now when I tell you that there is more than one type of straightedge. Now you go straight away and try this. Soon there won't be a non-straight thing around!! Rob Goodale, RPT Las Vegas, NV
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