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From: Alan Schackner
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 09:19:04 -0700
Subject: #270 Chromatic sliders

- --------------7C4000C78E1D7F8879BD9008

Hi,
I was most interested in Doug Tates commentary on sliders not being
flat...I think I might have worded the question thusly: "Have you ever
found a slider that WAS flat???" ( I have the utmost respect for D.T's
know how, so in no way should this be construed as any kind of
crtiticism..as a matter of fact I agree with him ! The slides are Never
flat) It's the nature of the beast!..When the slide openings are
punched out, the slide suffers a distortion...The easiest way to test
this, is to use a fine file and lightly file across the slide. ( I
prefer the 3/4 inch wide file for this) You'll find that the scratches
touch either the center only or just touch the edges.. depending on
which side you start with! This is the easiest way I know to prove that
the slide is biased ...I will then use one of several ways to flatten
the slide..Either by filing ...or I like to use an ocillating sander
with a firm base..I let the button hang over the edge of a flat piece of
glass, or any other flat surface.(This is exactly how it is explained in
my Chromo book when cleaning the slide.) I use a fine abrasive on the
sander, I then sand both sides of the slider... But common sense should
prevail...I do not grind it down to a paper thin consistency..Just
enuf' to partially compensate for the curvature...after which I will
lightly run some very fine #320 or finer wet dry abrasive lengthwise by
hand, which acts almost like a polish..So actually, Doug and I agree, we
just arrive at a similar result in a slightly different way...
IMPORTANT; since some material is being removed from the slide, you
should compensate by filing the U-Channel so that compression is not
compromised...

.I'm sure this will open up some more discussion...but that's what makes
Harp-L such a great place to visit!
All the best,
Blackie

- --------------7C4000C78E1D7F8879BD9008


Hi,

I was most interested in Doug Tates commentary on sliders not being
flat...I think I might have worded the question thusly:  "Have you
ever found a slider that WAS flat???"  ( I have the utmost
respect for D.T's  know how, so in no way should this be construed
as any kind of crtiticism..as a matter of fact I agree with him
! The slides are Never flat) It's the nature of the beast!..When
the slide openings are  punched out, the slide suffers a distortion...The
easiest way to test this, is to use a fine file and lightly file across
the slide. ( I prefer the 3/4 inch wide file for this) You'll
find that the scratches touch either the center only or just 
touch the edges.. depending on which side you start with!  This
is the easiest way I know to prove that the slide is biased ...I will then
use one of several ways to flatten the slide..Either by filing ...or I
like to use an ocillating sander with a firm base..I let the button hang
over the edge of a flat piece of glass, or any other flat surface.(This
is exactly how it is explained in my Chromo book when  cleaning the
slide.) I use a fine abrasive on the sander, I then sand both sides
of the slider... But common sense should prevail...I do not 
grind it down to a paper thin consistency..Just enuf' to partially
compensate for the curvature...after which I will lightly run some very
fine #320 or finer wet dry abrasive lengthwise by hand, which acts almost
like a polish..So actually, Doug and I agree, we just arrive at a similar
result in a slightly different way...

IMPORTANT;  since some material is being removed
from the slide, you should compensate by filing the U-Channel so that compression
is not compromised...

.I'm sure this will open up some more discussion...but that's what makes
Harp-L such a great place to visit!

All the best,

Blackie

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