Violin Forum/Message Board

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

i took joes class on varnishing and he recommends the tapping we used the heel of the hand for that , should be a sticky pull away , a certain sound like a smack but hard to describe. puts on a very thin layer. but the consistency
of the varnish has to be right, so if it isn't smacking you need to adjust the varnish consistency, it will feel that your skin is sticking to the varnish as you pull away, but leaves varnish behind. you can do quite a few layers that way.
you can also move the varnish around with the same method , if you get it a little thick in one place.
again doing it is worth a thousand words.

fjodor · Member Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

Thanks kjb,

I had used another varnish before with the tapping method. This varnish was so different to what I was used to, so it took a while to get the hang of it. You are right that a demonstration is invaluable.

DonLeister · Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:42 pm Post subject:

Nice work Fjodor!
I'm doing scrolls since CT did a bunch. I have never done so many in a row but I wanted to try some ideas while still using my old template. I think they still look a lot like what normally do. These still need to be cleaned up. I get them to this point and then glue on a finger board that is mostly shaped.

Janito · Member Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 114 Location: USA

fjodor · Member Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

DonLeister · Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:25 pm Post subject:

Yes the throats are different but could still be changed. The lumps sure stand out and I just noticed how the camera (phone) elongates things as they approach the corners of the frame. Rounder in the middle and more oval towards the corners. They look pretty rough!
And that E could stand to go up a little!

Mikes · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 11:20 am Post subject:

Fjodor great job on the varnish and the violin is looking awesome. I'm using Joe's system too same as you, one question is did you do any smoothing between the ground coats or color coats if so what? Keep up the great work!
Best,
Mike Spencer

Mikes · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 11:29 am Post subject:

Don very interesting to do and show so many scrolls and they all look great and different too! They do all look different in the pic and some more distinctive than others. I always wonder how distinctive one should go and what is the balance between personal ability, style, and tradition? Did you use different templates or just wing it? Yours are very nice though and great works!
Best,
Mike Spencer

fjodor · Member Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

ctviolin · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 8:20 pm Post subject:

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

I think that is the way to go ct, I am trying to get to that level, and making some progress

ctviolin · Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:27 am Post subject:

DonLeister · Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:28 pm Post subject:

Mike, I'm using the same template, from a Strad poster but varying the shape by going on one sided of the line or the other, it doesn't take much to really change the look.
To me they look 'roundish' but for one ( except for the lumps which will be smoothed out later). I need to do some more studies or drawings.

I have some of Joe's Greek brown pitch varnish too and have yet to try it, it is super thick and a nice color.

Fjodor , is that violin making any music yet? Does is sound like you expected it to sound?

fjodor · Member Joined: 28 Jan 2013 Posts: 60

DonLeister · Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:12 pm Post subject:

Nice that it sounds good right off the bat. I know they can change over time.

It's funny about the spruce, I think I have a heavy one on the bench now, it's 3.0-3.5 all over and about 85g w/o a bar, still some room to thin it down some.