Violin Forum/Message Board

[megabutter]

My pegs are a little squeeky or jumpy as I tune up. Anyone have any suggestions for getting them to turn smoothly?

I'm pretty handy, so I feel comfortable with digging into it if that's what it takes.

Thanks so much everybody!!

[Michael Darnton]

Hill peg compound. It comes in a tube like lipstick, available anywhere fine violin supplies are sold. You put a dab on the bearing surface and run the peg around a few times. If you use too much, pegs will slip for a couple of days, but that will go away soon enough. There are other things that will work (lava soap is one) but the Hill stuff is the best.
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[Lemuel]

I have also found the Hill peg paste to be the best. It provides a good balance of grip and lubrication. It is brown in color though and may look messy on light colored pegs such as boxwood.

[Dave Chandler]

Would bees wax work? I suspect that's what is in the other compounds but don't know.
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[Chad48309]

As is the solution for most things, more dope is the answer.

In this case, Hill peg dope. Build up thin layers on top of thin layers of dope for ultimate smoothness. It basically fills any grain or texture between the peg and hole with a sandy compound. Building up thin layers keeps it from rubbing into the grain and losing its hold but it also makes it all uniform and locks it together under string pressure (so that it doesn't slip).
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