Violin Forum/Message Board

Simski · Junior Member Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 3

Hi

I am in the process of building a rebec and need some woodworking advice. I have made the body and need to get working on the top. I have a block of quartersawn spruce as used by violinmakers - it looks like this https://www.tonewood.sk/img/tonewood/051403m.jpg. The block needs to be divided in two and then joined together but how do you do the split? I only have handsaws at the moment but they would probably be too inaccurate in the split. I do not know anybody with a large powersaw but I could probably find someone. I was thinking about getting a wood froe and do the split with that. The demonstrations I have seen were very impressive.

How would you do split a piece of wood of this sort?

Thanks

Mat Roop · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:45 pm Post subject:

Find someone with a good bandsaw....Good luck... Mat

actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

I wouldn't try splitting this piece, as per the photo.

The billet itself looks like it was sawn and if you try to split it down the middle you may find the split goes evenly down the middle, or more likely off on an angle, rendering the piece useless.

Simski · Junior Member Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 3

Right, so I need a large bandsaw to do this? I have no experience with this type of billet so I am completely blank right now.

Jack H. · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:27 am Post subject:

if the block was split I would just grab my Chinese cleaver and a hammer and split it again down the middle. If it is sawn then I would recommend using a large band saw. There has to be a carpenter in town that you can call and pay him to saw it for you nice and straight on a band saw.

Jack H. · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:27 am Post subject:

if the block was split I would just grab my Chinese cleaver and a hammer and split it again down the middle. If it is sawn then I would recommend using a large band saw. There has to be a carpenter in town that you can call and pay him to saw it for you nice and straight on a band saw.

violinarius · Member Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 171

Simski · Junior Member Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 3

Right, I am probably gonna check in with the local shop and have them saw it. Better not to take any chances with this. Thanks for the advice, everybody!

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:10 pm Post subject:

I resaw my split spruce in a bandsaw too.

But if you are going to make a rebec and if it's your first instrument, perhaps you could try domestic North American wood. Simeon Chambers sells a quite nice Englemann spruce that is already seasoned for decades. I've made my latest viola with it and liked it very much.
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Geemac · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:14 am Post subject:

For what it's worth I use an older method. I go to the local lumber mill and look carefully at large 12 x 12 blocks of spruce that are made for chocking the tires of large equipment. I inspect for knots and tightness of grain and if I am lucky enough I find a very old one that is almost grey/black on the outside. I buy it for five bucks and take it home where I split it in a quarter sawn way. Then I run the pieces I select through a thickness planer and joint and glue the edges. After the glue dries I make one more pass through the thickness planer and I am ready to use the piece for a fiddle.
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