<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1476" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Hi Joe,</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>In reading your letter, I guess I should have double taped the new piece of wood to the old bridge.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Then just cut it on the table saw. That way I would have ended up, with an exact replica.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Oh well, there will be a next time.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Thank you to all, for suggestions.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Regards,</FONT></STRONG></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=joegarrett@earthlink.net href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joe Garrett</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 18, 2004 11:11 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Bass Bridge</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John Ross Asked: "<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Hi List,<BR>I am remanufacturing a split bass bridge.<BR>It is 1 1/4" tapering to 1 1/8" at the other.<BR>I have the stock planed down to the 1 1/4".<BR> What is the best (easiest) way to get the taper? <BR>I have a planer, a jointer, a Shopsmith table saw and a hand plane."<BR>Regards,<BR>John M. Ross<BR>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada<BR></FONT><A href="mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca</FONT></A><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>None of the above!<G> As I do bass bridge duplication, etc., my tool of choice is a horizontal belt sander, (4x36). You can achieve these tapers very accurately with it. However, you did a boo-boo! You already planed it to the one measurement, so doing the taper will be more difficult, in not disturbing the 1 1/4" end. It's doable, but more care has to be taken. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Actually, the correct way to have done this is to cut off an even, (end to end) piece, using the bridge top surface to guide on. I do this with a bandsaw. Oh well, maybe next time.<G> Hope this helps a bit. If all else fails, I'd use a hand plane, taking very thin cuts and using a good straight edge to check your work as you proceed. I think I'd go to "almost" and then Block sand the last little bit. Oh, BTW, you should have checked the fore & aft thickness as well. (Of course, that should have been done before disassembly.<G>)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </DIV></FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>