Laminated Soundboard Ribs

[Farrell]

I guess a lot of my thinking comes from laminating ribs on boat hulls. I do realize that a soundboard is not a hull. And the laminated ribs on the boat replace steam-bent oak ribs. The laminated ones are nice because they tend to hold their shape way better than the steam bent ones. You may well be right that laminated would not be any stiffer than a solid rib. Part of my thinking is also that you need to saw through the grain to make a crowned soundboard rib - but of course, you are only cutting into it 1/8-inch or so. Some boats have sawn ribs and you end up with much of the wood grain not in a preferred orientation. I guess not such a big deal on the piano. I was also thinking of making a good use for the old soundboard. If you had laminated ribs, you could just cut up the old soundboard and at least make nice laminated ribs from it.

I'm also just posting because no-one will help me with my German F. Weber serial #19290!

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phillip L Ford" <fordpiano@lycos.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 9:52 PM
Subject: Re: Laminated Soundboard Ribs


> Terry,
> What makes you think that the laminated rib would be stiffer than a solid rib of
> the same dimensions (assuming the laminations are of the same material as
> the solid rib)?
> 
> Phil F
> ---
> Phillip Ford
> Piano Service & Restoration
> 1777 Yosemite Ave - 215
> San Francisco, CA  94124
> 
> 
> On Mon, 11 Feb 2002 07:47:43  
>  Farrell wrote:
> >If ribs are supposed to add stiffness to a soundboard, I would think that a laminated rib might offer some advantages. It would be stiffer for the same dimension than a non-laminated rib, and I should think you could control the stiffness to a greater degree. Also, might the rib shape tend to last longer? Has this been explored previously?
> >
> >Terry Farrell
> >  
> >
> >
> 
> 
> Go Get It!
> Send FREE Valentine eCards with Lycos Greetings
> http://greetings.lycos.com