tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3858989391440501233.post8911220131354602477..comments2024-03-12T03:20:43.369-07:00Comments on The Lute's Progress,: Building a 13 Course Lute, Start to Finish, 5: Thicknessing the BellyTravishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18149684115949805572noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3858989391440501233.post-73512722535509589452019-11-02T15:45:32.261-07:002019-11-02T15:45:32.261-07:00The late Frank Hubbard, in the builder's manua...The late Frank Hubbard, in the builder's manual for his famous harpsichord kits, also recommended thermal cycling for the sound board. If I recall the drill correctly, you were supposed to stand the soundboard in a closet for a number of days, where it could be humidified (did he suggest bowls of water?); then take it out and let it slowly re-addjsut to the ambient humidity. Or did he suggest first replacing the water bowls with a heater/d-humidifier, dry it completely; then bring it to ambient? Damn...ol' dog losin' his mem'ry!<br /><br />Anyway,the point is, if you don't want things cracking all to hell, you have to discover what your maximum and minimum dimensions are. Still more, you want to relieve any residual stress that the wood may have picked up when you glued the two halves of the soundboard together; and to get the thing working as a whole for the first time. And if, for your sins, the board has some hidden potential to warp really badly, this is when you're going to find out--nope, this one's for your buddy who makes dollhouse furniture. Such nasty surprises aren't confined to lutherie. I've put keyboard blanks through a similar process and been mighty glad that I did.<br /><br />Thanks again for sharing this account of your work and how you do it. I'm really looking forward to the next installment!<br />James Louderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14052158410861113896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3858989391440501233.post-41242904602366593702019-11-02T15:40:57.792-07:002019-11-02T15:40:57.792-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.James Louderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14052158410861113896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3858989391440501233.post-35938328211978384812019-10-27T01:03:24.105-07:002019-10-27T01:03:24.105-07:00Good job, Travis, Most piano builders have a clima...Good job, Travis, Most piano builders have a climate chamber where they store their soundboards at around 20% relative humidity for a longer period of time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pn_YuoVbUATermokurthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11678993786137939277noreply@blogger.com