Violin Forum/Message Board

bagpipeswest · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:45 am Post subject: my 2nd fiddle project

Thanks for all your help in getting me through my last fiddle (nippon) I pick ed up another one the other and it's in bad shape. I'm going to do it anyway.
The finish is done for. someone took paint remover to it. I'm in the process of craping it now.

1st question There are very bad scratches on the back. can I use sandpaper on the back only? There are always hardwood are they?

2nd Can you view the link and read the writing inside the fiddle...maybe you can make sense out of it (maker) it looks to be (Poset Porriers ?????)

http://picasaweb.google.ca/bagpipeswest/71477147TrackNoPosetPorriersViolinCirca1875#

Cheers Brent

Mat Roop · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 2:17 am Post subject:

Brent... don't ever use sandpaper, and dont ever use paint remover... It will totally destroy any value the instrument may have. Always repair damage and touch up finishes.... you will be surprised how good it will come out. That way the instrument will look good but old and used ... as an instrument of that age should.
I can't comment on the maker, but the age looks about right and it is a lower end instrument as evidenced by the missing upper blocks.
Cheers, Mat

MANFIO · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject:

The instrument seems to be quite old. If there is a small possibility that it is not a factory made instrument I would not touch it without having the skills to do the work, otherwise you can "kill" the instrument. Take it to a luthier prior to work with it.

Just my two cents.
_________________
www.manfio.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7875988@N02/with/464604020/

bagpipeswest · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input guys

I took the fiddle to local shop in town. ( very well know ) He works on instruments that are 50k or more. He told me that it dates around 1875 and it was made by a sweat shop in the poorer part of germany (saxon?) This was not a well made fiddle.

I have repaired 7 cracks on the top and one on the belly
The peg holes needed a reaming and I will put boxwood bushings in them

since someone used paint remover on it before I got, I spent 20 hrs of scraping

now its time for the varnish
First the ground coat
then 2 coats of oil varnish clear
then use rottenstone
then 20+ coats of red/brown oil varnish

Question?
Can I use rottenstone after the 20 coats
Then put more Clear on
then use rottenstone to give it a last polish?

Question? Do I put the saddle on Before or after the varnish?

bagpipeswest · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

I added some more pics so you can see my progress

Cheers Brent

http://picasaweb.google.ca/bagpipeswest/71477147TrackNoPosetPorriersViolinCirca1875#