<HTML>In a message dated 12/17/2002 5:32:19 AM Pacific Standard Time, mcpiano@globetrotter.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Subj: RE: Soundboardcrown Date: 12/17/2002 5:32:19 AM Pacific Standard Time From: <A HREF="mailto:mcpiano@globetrotter.net">mcpiano@globetrotter.net</A> Reply-to: <A HREF="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> To: <A HREF="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> Sent from the Internet        Marcel</BLOCKQUOTE>               If you are using flat ribs without a precut crown this amount of crown sounds about right. If you had crowned the ribs some you'd have more crown for a longer period of time but either way you'll have a good sound. With what you've described just more potential for compression ridge wood destruction.     There have been many discussions on list about the pros and cons of the rib crown and less drying of the panel versus the strictly compression crowned method with flat ribs and much lowere MC on this list.   In Peters case he seems to be greatly uninformed  as to where his crown is coming from so apparently he'll benifit from your post. Del is right ,he'll want to get the ribs off and rethink the MC content before he tries again.Peter I also recommend also reading some articles about the benifits of less panel drying etc before you put the ribs back on and risk another failure. Peter if you're listening ,asking the right questions on this list will save you a good deal of grief and contribute to your success rather than making the same mistakes some of us have made early in our careers making boards.     I know were all here to be helpful.      Regards   Dale Erwin <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> Peter, Here are my results and procedure: I started with ribs that were crowned to a radius of 65 feet. Made cauls that had a average radius of 47 ft Dried the soundboard to a 4.48 % MC (Moisture content) When I took the board out of the press, I had a crown of 45 feet radius; now, after a week I have 3/8" between the longest ribs (45.5") which gives me a radius of 57.5 feet. I'm quite happy with this crown (Mason &Hamlin "A"). Maybe Del will have a different opinion, and I hope he will share his thoughts on these figures. Marcel Carey, RPT Sherbrooke, QC </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>