Violin Forum/Message Board

Dave Chandler · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:09 am Post subject: Cutting Purfling Corners

Maybe this is taught in one of the schools, I don't know. Maybe I'm just seeing things, but in looking at one of Michael Darnton's photos of the Lady Blunt Strad, I noticed on slide called "corner 1" that if you look closely, it looks like the corner was constructed like this. Makes a clean corner, if I'm seeing it right.

I think to get this effect, you could cut the individual ends like this:

I've not seen this before -- that's one of the benefits I would get if I could actually hold and examine a fine instrument like the Lady Blunt Strad.

Cheers!
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

DonLeister · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 10:54 pm Post subject:

I see what you mean, but it's hard to tell. Those are some unusual and close up shots.
There is so much to see when you have an instrument in hand.
Thanks again Michael!

Andres Sender · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:35 pm Post subject:

Have a look at the original size image. What you're seeing is that one side has failed to push all the way in, but the two sides are cut in the normal way.

Green lines show rough idea of what I think is going on. Seems like a lot of mastic in there:

Yes, many thanks to Michael for his spectacular photos.
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You can only connect the dots that you have.

actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

I love the slow growth wood in that maple back... there's over 10 years of growth in just the area defined by the green line in Anders' photo...

E

Mat Roop · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:40 pm Post subject:

So my guess at first blush is that Andres' line is approx 5mm and the full width of 1/2 of the back at the corner is in the order of 93mm. That means for this two piece back, it should be from a tree of no less than 186 yrs old... more probably 200 yrs. That's a senior tree, with the life expectancy of an Acer pseudoplatanus at about 200-300 yrs
( http://www.britishhardwood.co.uk/guidance-advisory.aspx?page=124 ) Thanks all... for great pics and thread!
Cheers, Mat

David Burgess · Junior Member Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 6

actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

Hi David!

You got me all nervous after that and I scooted back to Michael's flickr series to revisit my impression... I may be wrong, but looking at the corners from a variety of angles the annular rings (especially as seen on the end grain of the corners) seem to be very close...

Best regards,

E

BK · Member Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 60

It would be interesting to see if David's hypothesis could be replicated on a sample piece of wood. Not sure if it would work or not, but would be interesting, nonetheless.

David Burgess · Junior Member Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 6