<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; cha= rset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff= f"> <DIV>I'd like to revisit the subject of dowels through ribs vs. soundboard b= uttons/screws. As I understand it, the arguments are:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1) Dowels through ribs weaken the supporting ability of the rib, especi= ally in a rib-crowned system</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2) Screws generally are a poor permanent means of attachment, as swelli= ng/shrinking of the wood under the head causes a loose screw, and possible b= uzzing (I have certainly seen loose screws in soundboard buttons; even buzze= s).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>At present, I don't have a completely reliable method of attaching the = bridges to the soundboard using only pressure, so am obligated to use screws= , at least as temporary clamps. On the previous couple of boards, we us= ed screws through buttons, but glued on the buttons. We left the screws in. = This copied the original system (Steinway). On the current board, a M&H = AA, it was originally screwed through the ribs, then doweled. I guess I don'= t understand how the rib would be weakened, if the hole is filled = with a dowel glued in with good glue. And would a plug be bet= ter? How about a spruce plug?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks for your thoughts,</DIV> <DIV>Bob Davis </DIV></BODY></HTML>