Pedal Box Raviolis 2024-10

The raviolis in pedal boxes are usually beat up and full of dust, upon which the back of a pedal rests. To make new ones, we need: 

--Thick leather as bottom. The size is cut a little bigger than the original.
--Thin leather as top. The cut size is larger than the bottom piece.
--Front punchings as insert.
--Small wood blocks, each with a 5/16" hole carved in by a forstner bit. The depth is one punching's thickness plus the thin leather.
--Small pieces of wood to support the bottom leather in clamps.
--Leather or felt glue.

Smear glue evenly on the thin top leather and around the punching. Place the punching in the center of the thin leather, and place the two pieces onto the wood block with a 5/16" hole. Squeeze down the punching and leather into the hole then cover with the thick bottom leather. Place the support wood piece over the bottom leather, then clamp the whole group together tightly. Usually this can be unclamped within a couple hours. If not sure, unclamp on the next day.

Now we have delicious looking raviolis. You can try eating them. They will be a bit chewy, according to refinisher Jimmy Maggio. According to the size of original ones, cut each ravioli to target size. Carpet nails work best to fasten them onto pedal box bottom board. When installing the raviolis, pay attention to the height of original pieces. To match the original ravioli height, add leather on the bottom or reduce the bottom thickness of new pieces if necessary. 

According to Debbie, "the thickness of bottom leather should be similar in thickness as the original. The total height of the ravioli is important as it determines whether the front of the pedal is horizontal to the floor, pointing up or pointing down. Preferred is horizontal or very slightly pointing down with use, the ravioli gets thinner and the front starts pointing up. The height at the back (of the pedal) also has an affect on the length of the pedal rod."