Pneumatic presses was RE: Emailing: P2130064

[David Love]

The pin system is quick and easy as you have to remove the top beam to lay
the panel onto the presses.  After positioning the rib you lay in the hose,
lay in the top beam, insert the pin and inflate the hose.  The light weight
makes this all one handed stuff and very easy.  With a top beam made of
wood, loaded with screw clamps it's cumbersome and slow.  With the valve at
the end of the hose you can quick connect the compressor hose and open the
valve just a small amount so that you can hold the rib in place while it
inflates very slowly.  That obviates the need to pin the rib so it doesn't
skate. 


David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Richard Brekne
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 10:58 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Pneumatic presses was RE: Emailing: P2130064

Well, they look really well thought through and very sturdy and 
functional indeed.  The issue about options for placement of the top pin 
for holding the upper beam is what got me thinking about some kind of a 
screw down system.... but what you have there looks to be more then 
workable.

The only reason I asked about vertical laminated beams is that I like 
the look of wood better :)... on the flip side I suppose those aluminum 
bars you have are nice and lightweight and store quiet easily. 

Anyways...  neat job. Grats.

Cheers
RicB


    Sorry, forgot to rename my photo emailer with the original message.  

    I toyed with the idea of a screw press but since there are different
    length
    ribs, where to locate the screws, just how many screws to put in
    each one,
    how to make them mobile etc., how do distribute the pressure evenly and
    thoroughly all convinced me that pneumatic was better.  My set
    consists of 6
    presses of varying lengths: 1 at 5', 2 at 3', 3 at 4'.  In
    retrospect, I should have
    built another 5 footer.  Also, I may end up switching the angle
    aluminum to
    perforated angle struts which would have been cheaper and easier
    with more
    options for placement of the pins for holding down the upper beam. 

    David Love