Violin Forum/Message Board

Mat Roop · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 11:03 am Post subject: peg box graft repair

This graft has arrived for repair. It is a perfect fit and a simple reglue will likely work well but your comments on 2 questions would be appreciated.
1- The previous glue was a hide glue... is there an advantage to washing the old glue off? my concern is that if I wash, then I might distort the wood and get a less than perfect final fit.
2- the fit is now absolutely perfect... how would the cuts have been made originally?

Chet Bishop · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 11:46 pm Post subject:

When I have done them, I made the initial cuts with a very fine pull-saw. but the final fit was done with a stiff, straight scraper.

If the fit is as good as you say, and there is no excess glue (which may be why it failed-- possibly all the glue was squeezed completely out, causing, in effect, a "glue-holiday"), then I think I would:

1. experiment with clamps until I knew EXACTLY how I was going to secure it, then

2. try it again, rapidly, then

3. go ahead and glue it with fresh, strong, hot hide glue, and clamp it.

Good luck with it.
_________________
Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com

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

The scarf joints on either side look abnormally short and the overall configuration is wrong - not done by a trained repairman.

Chet Bishop · Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject:

I agree-- very short taper-- but that is not fixable at this point.
_________________
Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com

Mat Roop · Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 11:35 pm Post subject:

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

Following the thought of an untrained repairman, what is that white stuff that seems to be bushing part of the G peghole?

I suspect other mischief also, eg glue type (which may be incompatible with hide glue).

In any case, it looks like a pretty cheap instrument, so to much contemplation is probably misplaced.

Mat Roop · Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 2:52 pm Post subject:

Janito- You are right... that white is part of the bushing for the peghole... not sure what the material is, but looks like some sort of paper.
The glue appreas to be hideglue as it gets sticky quite quickly with a wet finger.
You are right in that it is a cheap instrument... but they tell me it sounds terrific and with good volume... and with the effort that went into the graft, it must have been an instrument very desireable to the musuician.
As for contemplation... I like to give every instrument "the works"... never know what I might learn and apply to a good instrument! But then if I were to make a full living at this then I might be more inclined prioritze my contemplation time!
Cheers! ... Mat