Violin Forum/Message Board

[Dave Chandler]

I've just mounted some boxwood pegs on a violin just finished, and I'm wondering if there is a stain that would make the peg (at least the exposed part between thumb piece and side of the pegbox) match the finished thumb piece? I'm thinking of mixing some artist oils to match the color, thin it down and stain the exposed areas. How do other makers tone down the "new wood" look of the pegs? Or should I just leave it alone?
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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

[L P Reedy]

I would recommend a water based stain. Less chance for problems, I think. I've heard of hair dye being used (some shade of "auburn") but haven't tried it. I think I've also heard of shoe dye being used, in the non-water based category. With water based, if you get it too dark you can usually lighten it with a wet cotton ball.

[Jack Rushing]

I have used an acrylic water based paint by Plaid. Select a color like
your pegs, pour a small amount in a soft rag, and rotate the peg gently
in it. Sometime it takes two or more applications.

[tomigv]

If you want an instant dark reddish brown stain. Nitric acid, used for touching up bows works well , but very toxic. Ammonia will also signifigantly darken boxwood. Wear gloves. The easiest dark brown stain , available at ace hardware is roofing tar in a 1 qt can $7 thinned with turps or mineral spirits makes an effective dark brown stain. Good luck and experiment on scrap FIRST, to get the colour you desire.
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I am very interested in violin and bow making. Have quite a few interesting bows and a large cache of pernambuco. I like to experiment using local midwest hardwoods,