Violin Forum/Message Board

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

On the back , slab sawn, I have a choice either to put the convex rings following the curve of the back or visa versa, it seems that following the curve of the arch seem right, but my gut feelings on these things is often wrong. thanks ,kevin

Michael Darnton · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:05 pm Post subject:

Historically it's been done both ways. I don't think it matters a whole lot. I think it's just a bit more common to see the center of the tree on the outside, which makes the flanks closer to quartered than any of it would be if the other direction.
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kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

thanks again, hope I am not asking too many question?

Michael Darnton · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:36 pm Post subject:

Nope. Not too many.
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Chet Bishop · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:30 pm Post subject:

One thing (for better or worse) that I considered, in choosing which side of the slab to have outside, was, which direction does the wood move if it decides to 'cup" with a change in humidity?

Slab sawn wood usually (always?) cups away from the inside of the tree, which means that if the inside is outside (not to sound confusing), and if the wood moves, it will increase the arch, not decrease it...I hope.

I am currently building a one-piece-back cello http://www.bluefiddles.com/2013/02/cello-garland-lined-and-back-plate-cut-out/
If you look closely, you can see the word "INSIDE" scrawled in ball-point pen on the wood in this photo. That is the "outside of the tree", but, under the above logic (or lack thereof) I am turning it to the inside of the cello. We'll see how it turns out.
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kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

looks good chet. I ended up inside out as it were because of a small wood imperfection that would dissapear more in that direction.

Michael Darnton · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:50 pm Post subject:

When I've used slab wood I've done it the same as Chet, with the same idea, avoiding sucked edges. But i think that's been on only a couple of violas made odd poplar, so don't pay too much attention to me.
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