Violin Forum/Message Board

[MikeCooper]

[MikeCooper]

Here are some pictures of my block plane. I had two blades and used a dremel cutt off wheel to cut teeth into one blade.

[MikeCooper]

I made a short video today, just gluing the corner blocks and end blocks to the form. I use modern glue for this, not hide glue since it's convenient and only temporary and will not be part of the finished instrument.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=363zuCbu-b4

[MikeCooper]

It's been a while since I worked on the violin due to holidays and bad weather.
Finally it warmed up a bit and I got back out to the shop.

My computer crashed recently so I'm still trying to get set up to save images online so I can post them here.
Until then, here's a couple youtube videos I made yesterday working on shaping the end blocks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7mRNEIlgtQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VDJyFqao9g&list=PLCi-3ycJucGmyI_2jDJEqZXwUu73ivFDm&index=8

[MikeCooper]

Back in the shop yesterday, I was shaping the C bout ribs. For a bending iron, I use an old iron pipe and a torch and a piece of an old leather belt for the strap. It's not glued to the form, I just clamped it on until it dries thoroughly so it holds it shape better.

Here's a video. I need to get better at making videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dymCS8uTF2c

[MikeCooper]

Heating the bending iron.

[MikeCooper]

Bending the rib.

[MikeCooper]

A build update, a couple days ago I glued the C bout ribs to the corner blocks.
After the glue was dry I trimmed off the excess length. Next step will be shaping the upper and lower sides of the blocks in preparation for the upper and lower ribs.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1k0jX4Hs3Q


My shop helper is more interested in what's cooking in the pot.

[MikeCooper]

Shaping the corner blocks for the upper and lower bouts.

Link to youtube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUr1FRIFXqo


free photo hosting for ebay

[MikeCooper]

Here's an update. I took a short break from the build to make a violin knife for me and a marking knife for someone who wanted one. This is 01 tool steel. Oil quenched and tempered.

I'll get back to the violin build and have the rib garland finished this week, all that's left to do is finish gluing in the linings. Then the back plate begins..

[MikeCooper]

The rib garland is completed and I'm starting to work on the back plate.

upload for images

[MikeCooper]

Working on the back plate. If the edge looks too thick that's because I start it about 8mm just so I don't have so much thickness to cut through with files when filing down to the outline.

[MikeCooper]

I thinned the edges down to 4.5mm in the upper and lower bouts but before proceeding any farther, I decided to thin the whole plate down some more. This slab of maple was about 24mm thick so I'm planing it down closer to final thickness. I use a standard western style plane but just for fun, tested out my Japanese plane.

[Michael Darnton]

Just for the record, I'm watching. Don't have anything to say....
_________________
new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

[MikeCooper]

Thanks! I was wondering if anyone was watching. You know I post on Maestronet a lot but thought I would come here and post also even though this forum doesn't get much activity anymore. So I'll continue.