Violin Forum/Message Board

Joseph Leahy · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 2:29 pm Post subject:

Nice job Mat! Your repair process was well thought out and you did some nice work. Not sure if you will be able to recoup the cost of your time on this one but I'm sure it's rewarding to know it turned out well.

Joe

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

cool!

L P Reedy · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 7:03 pm Post subject:

Good job except that the new holes look a little big for my taste. I like to start a little smaller so that they can be reamed a couple of times before rebushing is required again. But they will probably outlast you and me.

Chet Bishop · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 12:20 am Post subject:

I'm impressed! Great work!
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Chet Bishop
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John Masters · Junior Member Joined: 13 Mar 2013 Posts: 23

This may not be favored by purists, but irregular holes could be cleaned of peg compound and filled with a good paste epoxy. (the white stuff is very hard-drying and strong.

One could mix with sawdust after wetting with a little xylene. Xylene will also thin the paste. I would paint the diluted paste on the fresh wooden surfaces before using the bulk paste. You can let the xylene evaporate as the work time is fairly long.

My idea is that irregular holes would be less subject to loosening by torque. The cheek method is necessary of course to conceal the epoxy. These ought to bind to sawdust in the fills, or of course, the cheeks could be put on with the same epoxy and thinned epoxy primer.

Altogether, removing minimum wood may make it stronger.

I admit I have never tried it, because I have never tried the method in this application, but I love the stuff for other things.

Any comments? It is less work for a junk violin or cello with the machine heads. (And admit it, only cheap instruments get this treatment.)

Keep the cost down for your client. And getting a perfect fit for the cheeks IS time consuming.