Violin Forum/Message Board

[jmck11]

I am about to glue the fingerboard to the neck so I can start to shape the rest of the neck. I was wondering, what is the preferred method of gluing the fingerboard? Should I temporarily glue it so I can remove it before varnishing or should I permanently glue it? Thanks

[Michael Darnton]

You can do it whichever way you want. I prefer to glue mine on once, forever. That doesn't permit a perfect finish on the top under the board, but I've never had a single person notice. That's the way the old Cremonese makers did it, too:



You can see both the length of the modern board, and where the end of the original short baroque board was, too, a couple of inches higher.

[ChameleonMan]

I personally would spot (temporarily) glue it, shape it, and then remove it for varnishing. I would be paranoid about an uneven coat of varnish under the fingerboard if I permanently glued it, but thats just me.

[jmck11]

Thanks for your replies. If I decide to glue the fingerboard permanently how do I varnish underneath the fingerboard once the violin is finished?

[ChameleonMan]

If you decide to glue it permanently, it might save a little time with the fingerboard gluing, but it would probably make the varnishing more difficult. However, I have seen very small brushes at Lowes that are shaped at 90 degree angles so you could reach under there more easily. It would be very difficult to get a more even coat, though. Best of luck!

[Michael Darnton]

It's not that hard to push varnish in from the sides--there's plenty of room for that, and you can do a reasonably good job of it. What you can't do is polish it later. One of the recent issues of STRAD magazine has an article on varnishing, and the person who wrote it uses little strips of foam on popsicle sticks to get under the board.

[violinarius]

I've seen some people wrap the fingerboard in aluminum foil, shiny side out, before exposing the instrument to the heat of the sun, or the heat of the U.V. box.

Michael, can you tell us the name of the maker of the photo you showed?
Thanks.

[Michael Darnton]

I shot it a couple of years ago and have been trying to remember. I think it was a Dutch instrument from about 1680, but I'm not sure.

I mentioned the Cremonese, because that's my benchmark for what to do: if they did it, if's what I want to do.

[jmck11]

Thanks again for all the help.

[okawbow]

I've done it both ways, and thought I did a better job on the finger board fit by glueing it on permanently before varnishing. The ones that I glued temporarily, and removed and re-installed after varnishing, didn't go back on perfectly every time. I used the foam on a stick method of polishing. The foam tip of a cheap foam paint brush cut and glued to a stick, also works for varnishing under the board. it helps to shine a small, bright flashlight under the board when applying varnish.

[okawbow]

I've done it both ways, and thought I did a better job on the finger board fit by glueing it on permanently before varnishing. The ones that I glued temporarily, and removed and re-installed after varnishing, didn't go back on perfectly every time. I used the foam on a stick method of polishing. The foam tip of a cheap foam paint brush cut and glued to a stick, also works for varnishing under the board. it helps to shine a small, bright flashlight under the board when applying varnish.

[okawbow]

sorry about the double post. message said there was an error.

[jmck11]

I am now convinced that I should permanently glue the fingerboard. I wouldnt feel comfortable about gluing and reglueing the same wood joint multiple times. Thanks