Violin Forum/Message Board

[Thomas Southern]

Hi

I'm looking for tips on how to plane a bridge to the proper thickness. How do you secure the bridge so it can be planed? Also how do you prevent the tip in the heart from being broken off?

Tom

[Andres Sender]

Plane cross grain with a very sharp plane 'up' the bridge.

[Michael Darnton]

And plane on your fingertips (not IN your fingers).

[violinarius]

http://www.theviolinman.co.uk/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=Professional_Luthier_Tools

About halfway down the page is a picture of a bridge holder.

[John Cadd]

Don`t plane your bridge mate.Get hold of a diamond nail file.Diamond nail files eat bridges for breakfast. The surface is left wonderfully smooth and you can adjust pressure at any point to keep the job under control.even the little delicate bits are not threatened .But you still need to trim them back a tiny bit with a knife as they will snag on clothing every chance they get.
You can also use the larger diamond sharpening "stones".
While you work on the bridge I`ll give you another tip.
The fitting on to the belly is important and can be done by carefully fitting two screws through the holes onto the end of an 8 inch long piece of wood.1 ,1/2 inch by 1 inch If you have a support for the violin make a small platform at the tail end .Rest the 8 inch wood on the support and rub the feet on fine sandpaper placed just between the soundhole nicks.The 2 screws must have washers to protect the bridge.The right hand moves the wood as the left hand is used to guide the bridge .Move the wood about 3/4 inch to and fro. The left hand holds the sandpaper in place .Only move the bridge between scroll and endpin and not side to side.Angle of bridge is set by the wood slider and position of support. Result ----a perfect fit.