Violin Forum/Message Board

[famuswood]

Well, I've finally fitted and installed the neck and closed the plates on my first violin. It has been quite a journey to say the least! I'd love to go into detail but maybe in a different forum.
I have not found a lot of information from various sources on how to approach finishing the edges of the violin. I read a comment by Mr. Darnton about chamfering the edges to then work with five sides, i.e. the top, the top chamfer, the side, the bottom chamfer and the bottom of the plate. I'm wondering about techique after the chamfers. What tools and approaches happen next? I want the edges to be as uniformly rounded as possible. Any tips would be much appreciated regarding, for example, not bumping into the ribs with sandpaper, how to improve the look of minor irregularities, etc. Do makers tape the ribs to avoid contact? Thanks so much for any thoughts.

[Mikes]

After the five sides just take off the points and blend the edge into a smooth radius. I use a small eqauling file, they come in a needle file set that can be had at your home town hardware store. I slightly round over the end of the file so it's not sharp then wrap a little masking tape around to help prevent scaring of the ribs, be careful is all.

[Dave Chandler]

Now that you have it together, you can even out the edges. I've found that an uneven overhang is more distracting to me than uneven purfling. It can depend on where it is and how much needs done, certainly an individual preference.

I do the 5-side camphering as well, using a small file on spruce, my 8mm finger plane on outside maple edges, then a scraper to round it out. Inside the c-bout I have to use an exacto knife to get the tightest areas up against the ribs, got to watch the tip closely, or use a very small sharp scraper. The scraper though leaves high and low areas in the soft spruce between the tree rings. Some people like this effect. I don't care for it, so I finally finish with fine sandpaper, then micromesh.
_________________
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

[famuswood]

Thanks to both of you for the suggestions. I feel a little more oriented to the process now. I know it may seem like a relatively minor aspect to building the violin but I have learned that assuming something is simple can sometimes lead to errors that are then made more difficult to correct. I really appreciate your help.

[actonern]

[i]I've found that an uneven overhang is more distracting to me than uneven purfling.[/i]

If you purfle after the plates are glued on you needn't have either problem

[famuswood]

I can see both sides. Cutting channels before the plates are glued seems to me to be a more flexible and controllable environment. I agree that if you finish the edges and then cut the channels you are really home free to get pretty close to perfect overhang and purfling margin. At my skill level I felt more comfortable using a dremel tool than hand tools which pretty much demanded I cut the channels before assembly.

[actonern]

But if you did it afterward you could revel in the idea that you are working according to the same method as Stradivari!

Best regards,

E

[famuswood]

Certainly an inspirational thought.

Thanks

[Dave Chandler]

Actonern: You're quite right, I don't purfle until I've completed the assembly, so yes, my edges are already where I want them before I purfle. But I presumed famuswood purfled before assembly (he didn't say) as many builders like to do the purfling when they can lay the plate flat on the workbench. I use a big old towel folded up so that the violin can lay on that while I purfle at the kitchen counter. ONe of the few operations where I can bring the violin into the house and not make an ab solute mess. Its also before I attach the neck too.
_________________
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