<HTML>.<B= R> Isaac writes .I have yet a few questions = about the <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> geometry of down bearing , possibly when the rear slant is pronounced, and that the apparent bearing as seen with a thread is very high (8 or 10 mm for instance). Stephen tells me it does not show the real pressure, as much of it is "absorbed" by the slant in the bridge (between the pins).</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT= > ....>>>It can be di= fficult to tell but I find working with the Lowell bubble down bearing gauge= can give what I believe is a good indication of the bearing. <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> I am still not sure to be clear on that. in that case, the real pressure may be showed by the rear bearing plus the front bearing, and the eventual 1 or 2 mm slant on the bridge is not to be considered in the computation (with the thread simple method as used by most of rebuilders there). About the rib crowned soundboard, my idea was that they need a large bearing in fact because this is installing internal tension on a panel that is more neutral to begin with.</BLOCKQUOTE> >>>Yes but remembe= r even a soundboard panel dried to 6% E.M.C. is still very dry and there is = internal tension as it climbs to 12% or more . Also the addition of downbear= ing also creates tension but the total internal conpression it's not as seve= re or consequently destructive to the wood fibers As  a purely Compress= ion crowned board. So the bearing I apply although generous has its limits. = It's a delicate & meticulous procedure. <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">If a CC crowned design where re= tained, adding pressure on it lessen the internal tension, or leave it alone may be (because it goes the same direction that the ribs trying to be flat (?????)</BLOCKQUOTE><F= ONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY= ="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">   >. Again push on i= t. Check the panel thickness. Is it thin..300/ 7.5mm uniformly or is it thic= ker .340 / 9mm   or more. What dimesions are the ribs? All these t= hing have a consideration<BR= >    Best--Dale Erwi= n <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> Best regards take care with that sun !. Isaac </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>