Violin Forum/Message Board

J. Goldsmith Strings · Member Joined: 09 Oct 2013 Posts: 26

Awesome, thanks Smile

Mat Roop · Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2013 9:03 pm Post subject:

ctviolin · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:52 am Post subject:

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

clever idea!

J. Goldsmith Strings · Member Joined: 09 Oct 2013 Posts: 26

I picked up the tools today. Anyone got any idea what the jigs are?

Does this edge look too thin to you?

Should I finish off the half-done back and front for my first violin or should I start from scratch?

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

wow quite a haul !

I would finish the top and back and put it together, unless its really nice wood then I would wait.

L P Reedy · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 7:11 pm Post subject:

No way to match identifications to your fuzzy pictures. Most of them do not look familiar but many should be obvious to you by now. There is a purfling groove marker (or two), thickness caliper, scratch stock for edge fluting, mold, etc. Better to ask about three or four things at a time, with sharp pictures.

John Masters · Junior Member Joined: 13 Mar 2013 Posts: 23

[quote="J. Goldsmith Strings"]Ok, so the title says it all really. I'm 16, don't have much money and I want to start my first violin soon. What tools will I definitely need? Which can I make myself?

Joe[/quote]

Don't be blinded or snowed by all of the tools needed. When I was 12, I got the Popular Mechanics book, "You can make a 'Stradivarius' violin."

There was a pocket with a lot of plans. The text was too abreviated to make much sense of things. I later bought the Herron-Allen book.

When I was 15, I got interested in making knives. Suddenly I saw that one could make tools. My first chisel had an 18" handle and the metal was one of the cheapest possible 3/4" chisel. I ground this to give it a rounded shape. I rough-carved by pushing the end of the handle with my belly and my fists in between. My first knife (which I used for a long time) was a small putty knife cut to make a triangle, and the steel was tempered well for a knife.

I used the chisel to take tiny bites instead of having a plane or scrapers. I did not even have peg shapers or reamers. A local shop fit the pegs.

My aunt knew Carl Becker as she had one of his violas and lived in Chicago. I was 16 with my first violin finished with Michelmann varnish. She had known Michelmann in Cincinnati where she played quartets with Mrs. Michelmann.

Anyhow, I wound up meeting meeting Mr. Becker and he talked to me for some time. He even told me I could learn a lot if I came to Wisconsin for the summer. What an offer !! At the time I was headed to college to study physics. I told him "It is nice as a hobby, but I am going to college." His advice was "learn to sharpen a scraper and how to use it."

The whole point is that you can manipulate the world to do things. You can make tools. That is the whole point of technology. The rest is keeping your eyes and ears open.

Michael Darnton · Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 2:53 pm Post subject:

When Y2K turned over, I was going to visit my parents. I thought, "What if they're right, and the world as we know it comes to an end when the computer clocks roll over?" So just in case, I put everything I figured I'd absolutely need to make violins in the woods if I couldn't get back to Chicago. The whole pile, except for my form and a saw, fit in one of these:
http://www.arvadasurplus.com/50cal-can.html?productid=50cal-can&channelid=FROOG&utm_source=CSEs&utm_medium=GoogleShopping&utm_campaign=ArvadaSurplus

You don't really need much to make a violin. I imagine I have a LOT more tools than Andrea Amati did.
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J. Goldsmith Strings · Member Joined: 09 Oct 2013 Posts: 26

A lot's happened since I last posted this.

Recently, I contacted a violin maker. We got to chatting on Facebook, and we talked about my first violin. This guy/gal (who shall remain anonymous unless he/she wishes otherwise) then offered to give me all the wood I needed that I wasn't given already, and some surprise tools. I opened the box, and inside was:

Loads of gouges and straight chisels
Rasps and files
Coping saw
Calipers
Finger planes
Block plane
Dividers
Tape measure
Sharpening stones

Now I can start my violin! Is that amazing or what?

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

well you are all set, in mind and tools, good luck, make some sawdust!!

Chet Bishop · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:10 pm Post subject:

Pretty huge boost, there. I hope you make full use of it. I wish I had begun this craft at your age.

Chet
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Chet Bishop
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R Mac · Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 1:33 pm Post subject:

J. Goldsmith,

What an excellent and generous thing!

My hat is off to your benefactor/benefactrix.

Mac
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J. Goldsmith Strings · Member Joined: 09 Oct 2013 Posts: 26

BowMaker · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:15 pm Post subject:

hey mate. im also 16 and in the UK. where abouts are you? im loking to make a violin too i have about the same tools you have. good to know there is someone else out there like me making violins.
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i make bows (archery) but im going to give violins a try