Violin Forum/Message Board

ollieken · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject: Dropped violin

Hello folks My friend dropped his violin & cracked the top from F hole
towards the back on the sound post side .Can someone post the best way to repair this & shoulld the top come off & put cleats on crack after glueing with hide glue & what do you think of liquid hide glue Thanks Ken

FiddleDoug · Member Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 227 Location: Hilton, NY

Please hold the fiddle a little closer to the computer so that I see it better.
Seriously, some pictures would be helpful. Are you saying that that you have sound post cracks in both the front and the back? If so, the top would have to come off for a very extensive and expensive repair, and the instrument would probably be devalued by about 50%. Don't use liquid hide glue.
Take it to a good luthier for a proper evaluation.
_________________
Doug Wall

www.wallindependent.com

ollieken · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:14 pm Post subject: cracked top

Doug I dont have the violin & I did not see it I am asking for the friend
so he will have some idea of what has to be done to repair it
I guess i should have explained that sorry Only the top is cracked on the E side from the f sound hole towards the rear I am going to see if he will join this forum & post a picture .Thank you for the reply ken

Mat Roop · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject:

Ken... Keep in mind I do not work on real expensive violins , so take my opinions with a grain of salt...contrary to popular opinion, I usually do not cleat splits because that adds weight to the plate and changes the mass distribution and hence the vibration characteristics. My theory is that a good clean glue joint should be stronger than the original wood... so why cleat? So far I have not had any come back.
Next, I have had real good results without taking the top off. Go to Princess auto or lee valley and get some 1/4" X 1/2" rod neodymium magnets ... enough for about 1 every inch of split. Set them up dry in pairs (1 inside and and 1 outside) to be sure they line up the split evenly and clamp lightly from side to side.. Lightly to be sure the arch is not distorted.
Then take them all off, heat the split with a hair dryer, rub in fresh hot hide glue (not too thick), wipe off excess, lay on some thin plastic from a baggie( to prevent the magnets from being glued to the varnish), set the magnets and clamp in place. let set overnight and wash excess glue off.
All of this is not traditional... but for lower end violins and a lowcost repair... it works.
Good luck!... Mat

ollieken · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject: Thanks

Thank you folks for the reply will pass it on