Are these ribs close enough?

**Shiyuchi** · 04-13-2008 03:24 PM

This is my first press, it has just concave. But I was wondering if the ribs are close enough to avoid any gaps. The whole thing is 46" and the ribs are made out of 2x6's about 12 inches wide.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9...stpressxw3.jpg

**SteveC** · 04-13-2008 03:59 PM

I think that's a bit too far apart, what tends to happen from what I've seen is the board ends up with wavy concave.

**EvoRidr420** · 04-13-2008 04:04 PM

with that set the glue will be forced in to the spaces with out the ribs and it will cause waves as steve said. The closer together the more even the pressure is and the straighter it will be.

**burtonpunch84** · 04-13-2008 04:16 PM

no its way too far. i made a rib press like that an it was even closer than that and i still got a wavy concave and the glue did not do its job as well in the areas were the ribs were spread apart.

**Shiyuchi** · 04-13-2008 04:24 PM

so do you think one rib in between each current one would be enough?

**burtonpunch84** · 04-13-2008 04:40 PM

yea it should be. i personaly dont realy like this type of press because i had various problems with mine. but yours seems much more simpler than mine so your should be fine

**Shiyuchi** · 04-13-2008 04:46 PM

thanks, I'll post another pic when the new ribs are done.

**Shiyuchi** · 04-13-2008 05:25 PM

update:

now with 11 ribs!

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/364...revisedlj1.jpg

I don't have the spacing perfect yet but it'll do.

I'll post more when they're all screwed down.

**hoch92000** · 04-13-2008 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Shiyuchi

update:

now with 11 ribs!

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/364...revisedlj1.jpg

I don't have the spacing perfect yet but it'll do.

I'll post more when they're all screwed down.

Better, but you'll still get waves, just smaller ones. Will you tolerate some waviness, or will you abandon this press design for some thing else, that is the question.

**Zap** · 04-13-2008 08:52 PM

Yeah, that'll still be wavy. What kind of wood are you using, and what thickness?

**Shiyuchi** · 04-13-2008 09:00 PM

I could use either 4 pieces of 1/4 BB or two pieces of 1/2 BB.

Which one should I use?

**the scapegoat** · 04-13-2008 09:15 PM

Hey total noob question here as I'm not a board builder, but why isn't a solid piece (instead of ribs) used? Or just all the ribs pressed up against each other. Is there an advantage to using spaced ribs? Seems like all it does is produce waves.

**Spencer** · 04-13-2008 09:23 PM

ok well it would be awsome if u could use a solid peace just how u ganna cut out the concave in that piece

**Zap** · 04-13-2008 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by Shiyuchi

I could use either 4 pieces of 1/4 BB or two pieces of 1/2 BB.

Which one should I use?

1/4 BB is much much more suited, you get a tremendous amount of flex back with 1/2. with 1/2 you would only use 2 plies, which is practically useless in lamination and shaping wood. 1/4 will do, but using individual veneers is preferable.

Originally Posted by the scapegoat

Hey total noob question here as I'm not a board builder, but why isn't a solid piece (instead of ribs) used? Or just all the ribs pressed up against each other. Is there an advantage to using spaced ribs? Seems like all it does is produce waves.

People do, they just take longer to make. Unless they have a CNC mill, they do it just by putting the ribs right next to each other. It works great, but it takes longer to build for little variation in results.