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Steve Holdaway
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Joined: 01 Sep 2009
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 Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:14 am Post subject: Bending purfling |
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| I'm building my first violin and am having difficulty bending the purfling material. If I get it hot enough to bend it delaminates. I'm using a the same heated aluminum tool I used to bend the sides. I have several books on violin making and none of them give any specific instruction on how to do this bending process. I'd appreciate any help or direction anyone can give. Thanks! |
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Michael Darnton
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Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Are you using a backing strap? |
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Steve Holdaway
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Joined: 01 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject: Bending purfling |
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| Yes, I'm using a thick piece of maple to hold the purfling against the heated iron. I also tried turning the heat down some and it still delaminated. |
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Michael Darnton
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| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Instead of that, try a flexible piece of metal--I use long strips of thin stainless steel shim stock--or even a leather belt. You need something to hold a long length of purfling against the flatter side of the iron to heat it, then work it around the curve when it's softened. If it's delaminating, it's because you are holding it against the iron too long, or the iron's too hot. Using a back up strip makes things go faster, and it's less likely to come apart.
Taking a 1:10 solution of glycerine in water and painting it on the purfling at least a day ahead and allowing it to dry will soften the purfling, and help. |
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Steve Holdaway
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Joined: 01 Sep 2009
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject: bending purfling |
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| Thanks for the tips. I'll try them out this weekend. |
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Michael Darnton
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| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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| With a backing strip, it will bend VERY quickly, so move fast. |
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Fiddlers3
Junior Member
Joined: 23 Oct 2010
Posts: 2
Location: Auchterarder, Scotland, UK
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 10:32 am Post subject: Re: Bending purfling |
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| Steve Holdaway wrote: | | I'm building my first violin and am having difficulty bending the purfling material. If I get it hot enough to bend it delaminates. I'm using a the same heated aluminum tool I used to bend the sides. I have several books on violin making and none of them give any specific instruction on how to do this bending process. I'd appreciate any help or direction anyone can give. Thanks! |
Purfling is fairly flexible material in the first instance and does not need the same level of heat as with the ribs so it should help if you turn down the heat on your bending iron or, if no temperature adjustment is available, use an alternative source of heat such as a set of ladies' curling tongs with the bushes removed to leave only the element. You will find that, with good purfling material, you should not need heat at all for the top and bottom curves wxcwept at the the corners where wetting the bending area with your tongue should suffice. With C bouts, wet the ends with your tongue and only gently bend the section in between. I don't use the bending strap at all for my purfling but I did experience a severe lamination problem last year with an inferior grade of purfling. I now use a pear/maple mixture and had very little problems with it.
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Scotsman, retired from industry and now making and repairing violins as a hobby. First violin completed August 2010. I have no commercial interest whatsoever, just love to this fun hobby. I am also into Traditional Scottish Music. |
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