Steve Deckert
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On a less frustrating note, tonight I built another (my third) pair of Exotic Afromosia Tiny Radials.
This pair was made after the addition of a new sander and a few other tweaks in the shop. Since this project started my attention has really been on the process, and tonight the process felt perfect. It was a real joy to run through each step of construction and have everything come out so well it almost assembles itself. So I now look forward to making many more and appreciate everyones patients who has been waiting for more to show up on the page.
On a similar note, the new sander (Flat-Master) is a game changer on finishing because if you start with a glass flat panel when you varnish, then sand each coat perfectly flat, you will never sand through the finish on the edges, corners, or anywhere else. This is going to make it possible to do high gloss finishes on those woods that demand it, without a lot of stress. For example, I could if I wanted to probably get the same results in 5 coats that took 50 coats before...
Because only the sanding grit contacts the wood, not paper, all wood densities, i.e. sapwood, knots and everything in-between sand to the exact same flatness which is impossible by hand, or with a belt or conventional drum sander, or any other method. My extremely good orbital sander is now retired.
Another thing about this amazing sander, it will sand varnish, glue, paint, whatever... and NEVER have even a trace of it stick to the paper. In fact the other day it totally blew my mind when each side of a Tiny Radial felt refrigerated after sanding. Literally, the 3 sides in contact with my hand were warm and as I rotated each side and sanded it, it then become cool to the touch. Mind blowing really.
So with this technology it means when I finish a Tiny Radial and just don't like it... I can just sand it off and do it again. Less than 5 minutes, same small piece of sandpaper I have been using for the past several weeks... hell in sandpaper costs alone it will pay for itself in less than a year.
Plus there is no real sound... no dust, no vibration, no changing pads all the time, it's just incredible frankly. Get this... the anti-static drum and air cushion under the paper keep sawdust from sticking to paper and it just falls off the drum into a tray. You don't even need a vacuum. No noise, no dust, no way to burn it, no clogging the paper, no changing the paper, it's like magic. Reminds me of our amplifiers. ; )
I guess it's in my blood now... When you build a biblical number Zen Triode Amplifiers over 25 years, the same amp, it becomes about constantly refining the process to create a better product which becomes more challenging and satisfying than the amplifier design itself.
So, it's starting to get fun now... and the fact that they have been so well received is of course what is driving this forward. It is very satisfying to be able to make something that everyone can afford... and likes! It get's back to the roots of Decware when 20 years ago you could buy a Zen Triode amplifier for the price of a deluxe Tiny Radial today! I can see why Randy is so happy making Betsy Baffles. He was the inspiration and partial pattern for the Tiny Radial project... And guess what... he can't build enough of those either!
Happy listening!
Steve
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