help a beginner measure mc in wood with confidence

[Ron Nossaman]

> Thanks for the sketch Ron...

Welcome.


> Regarding the accuracy over time...its easy enough to check down the road.
> Just put the gauge and a sample piece in the box or whatever, oven dry the 
> sample and check against the gauge...no?  

Yes.


> Terry, I have a question for you. I like the simplicity of your approach, and 
> will use it or a version of it on a keyboard blank I'll be making in a couple 
> months. 
> 
> You have a great mc/width reference before ribbing, but don't you lose your 
> reference once the board is ribbed? There are at least 2 times after ribbing 
> when I'll 
> want to know when that board is at or near the target mc; just before I glue it 
> in the case, 
> and then again when I take downbearing measurements...it seems like you no 
> longer 
> have a reference dimension at these points.  
> -
> Jim Ialeggio 

One of these concerns is why I like my simple minded little 
gage. While there isn't any crown related reason to have the 
soundboard assembly at ribbing MC when it's glued in, I find 
that the thing squirms around enough with MC shifts that I can 
get better bridge alignment if the thing is at the same MC 
when it's glued in as it was when the bridges were located and 
glued on, since I depend on locator pins for both the plate 
and soundboard placement.

Come time to set bearing, the crown isn't a whole lot 
different in an RC&S board in high humidity than it was at 
ribbing, so that's not too big a deal. Always looking for 
better ways though.
Ron N