<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4522.1800" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Woooh! Yeah. OK, I see now. I guess that is the difference between = someone that builds quite a few panels, and one that is thinking about his = first! I suspect such a machine is a bit beyond me at this time. I studied the = picture for quite a while trying to figure out exactly what does what on this = machine and am not quite there - don't even try to enlighten me, because = clearly, I will not be using any such machine for a long time!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But, what I do have, and what I think might work reasonably well, = is a BIG sanding block. I mean big. I found a real nice flat (like totally = flat) piece of poplar (I think  it is about 6 inches wide by about 5 feet = long) and epoxied a strong lattice work of straight dry oak planks up on edge = (just to try and keep the poplar board real flat, i.e. not twisting, bowing, etc. = - the back side of my poplar plank looks like the underneath of a = Bosendorfer). Then I made a couple clamp thingees on the back side, one at each end. Then I bought three sanding belts - I forget right off what grits - 60, = 80, 120 or there abouts - that are 6 inches wide and 3 feet in diameter (6-foot-plus in circumference). Cut them and attach the belts such = that I have what is just like the little half-sheet rubber sanding blocks, only = mine is 6 inches by 5 feet.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Would you think that careful use of such a sanding = tool on a soundboard panel would have the potential to result in successful = nice, even, thickness reduction? (The panel would need to be laid on a very = flat table of course! - which I have - my regulating table - that I made real = flat with use of my BIG sanding block!) A few strokes this way, a few strokes = at right angles to that, moving all around, and so on?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Unless there are obvious flaws here, I suppose the way to go is = "try it and see"!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Am I on to a simple workable solution here? Or am I just treading = water before I sink?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>How do others in the "one or two soundboards a year" shop = do it? Thanks.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=pianobuilders@olynet.com href="mailto:pianobuilders@olynet.com">Delwin D Fandrich</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, January 18, 2002 = 12:56 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: my own = Soundboard</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> January 17, 2002 7:06 = PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: my own = Soundboard</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>What is a stroke sander?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV> <DIV> <SPAN id=__#Ath#SignaturePos__></SPAN>  = </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>Go to <A = href="http://www.woodwork.it/ing/minimax/minimax.htm">http://www.woodwo= rk.it/ing/minimax/minimax.htm</A> and look at the model LS <P><FONT size=2><FONT size=3><STRONG>Double gooseneck narrow belt = sanding machine</STRONG></FONT></FONT></P> <P>Del</P></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTM= L>