Now that we are confident that we still have bars that will function properly on the instrument, we have begun construction of the rails. These four long wooden pieces span the whole instrument and provide a base on which the bars rest. In order to construct them, we had started to drill holes in stainless steel plates to connect the two halves. We will then drill the same holes in the planks and put bolts through the wood to create eight-foot long rails on which to rest the bars. The pictures will help to explain.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/leopardshark.com\/music\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/DSC_0042.jpg\" "\\"DSC_0042\\"")
<\/a>Using the grinder on the stainless steel plates. The table saw is just providing a nice work surface, and is not plugged in<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Rounding the corners<\/p><\/div>\n
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<\/a>I think making sparks is always considered fun<\/p><\/div>\n
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<\/a>Drilling the rails<\/p><\/div>\n
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<\/a>The plate connecting it all together<\/p><\/div>\n
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<\/a>The stainless steel plate. We now need to drill the 3 holes in the other side<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Paul- DON’T WORRY! It wasn’t actually near-death for dad or me. But for the marimba, it came close. Preparing to line up the new holes for replacement bars, we had a close encounter of the absent-minded kind. We had all … Continue reading