Violin Forum/Message Board

johngia · Member Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Posts: 84

Currently, the diameter of the peg at the peg box is .340" (8.6 mm). The collar to peg box distance is .14" (3.5 mm). The pegs are not a 1:30 taper. Probably 1:25 or 1:20. This violin is from the 1800's.

The pegs are severley slipping. Not sure what to do to fix. Peg drops? Ream over size to 1:30? Keep existing taper? Bush?

Suggestions?

Thanks.

L P Reedy · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:17 pm Post subject:

For me, the most logical would be to bush the larger end, at least, then ream to 1:30 and install new pegs. If the old pegs are 1:25 you would need to bush both sides, probably. Visually there isn't much difference between 1:30 and 1:25 or even 1:20. I've encountered pegs that were 1:10 or steeper. Those are pretty obvious and not that uncommon.

If you can get by with bushing just the big end, spiral bushings would be very practical. But when I bush and install new pegs I like to go down to about 7 mm or a little smaller for the larger hole. Not everyone agrees with me for their own reasons. But I definitely would not recommend just reaming the existing holes and installing giant pegs. That's a recipe for peg box cracks, unless you have a reamer that matches closely the existing taper , and a good variable taper shaver. Then you might get away with reaming the least possible. I doubt that is a likely scenario.

Peg drops? Never used them and never will.

Michael Darnton · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:31 pm Post subject:

What he said, but I would probably ream them out and bush on both sides just to make sure it was a nice fresh job. But I do have a 1:20 reamer and shaper for this job...
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johngia · Member Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Posts: 84

Thanks, LP and Michael.

Will bush with spiral bushings per your suggestions.