Violin Forum/Message Board

rs · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:06 pm Post subject: Raising the Grain on Spruce Tops

Hello. I am WANTING to start raising the grain of my tops. I like the effect. Water is fair, but with narrow grain does not offer much of a contrast. Years ago a friend of mine (a maker) said there is an additive that can be used that dramatically does this.

Any ideas?

Thanks

MANFIO · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject:

The so called "corduroy effect" or "organic look" is the visual result of the traditional technique used to shape the table: the scraper. The scraper compresses the "white" lines of the spruce and cut the "dark" lines. When you varnish the top, the compressed wihte lines swallow while the dark lines are not affected, creating the corduroy effect.

If you use the sandpaper instead of the scraper, this effect will not appear.
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rs · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply.

I only use scrapers to shape the wood.

When I apply my varnish or my ground, I have tried each first, I get about the same results: the raise is only ever so slight. It is too slight to be attractive.

I generally end up polishing it out.

I have tried using a damp sponge when in the white, but the raise is not dramatic.

As I have seen some very beautiful effects on tops that had them , I just wanted to know, "How'd he do that?" I want to do the same thing!

Best wishes!

MANFIO · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:37 pm Post subject:

You could try perhaps a less sharp scraper, it will compress more than cut wood.

The corduroy effect will depend on the wood also, some pieces of spruce are more prone to produce it than others. Are you using European spruce?
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rs · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks again for the reply.

The last two I did are European Spruce. The previous ones, not. The difference I note in the European Spruce is a more uniform grain and it is slightly easier to work with. To me, the grain raises the same, although the grain appears to swell more than the other Spruce I used when dampening the wood around the purfling. This makes a tight fit for certain. Because the grain is more uniform in spacing across the table, I think a uniform raise would be a sharp look.

The dull scraper is a good idea. I was hoping there existed a treatment of some kind. Years ago a friend (a maker) told me there was. I didn't write it down. It was a Potassium compound, I am fairly certain. But this is based on the memory of a conversation I had twenty years ago.

Thanks for replying and best wishes

MANFIO · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:18 am Post subject:

Some players don't like the corduroy effect since they are used to see old instruments which varnish texture has been destroyed by overpolishing.

I received a comission for a viola and the player asked for no or little corduroy, so I sanded the top a bit but, even so, eventually, some corduroy remained:

The "valleys" of the corduroy attracts dust and helps creating a beautifull patina.
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rs · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks again.

I will try a "dull" scraper on this one.

I will post the picture when done.

That top you posted is very pretty. I also saw some pictures from your website. You do very fine work indeed.

I will continue to hunt for this "mysterious compound" and see if this helps, so if anyone has heard of it, let me know.

Thanks, and best wishes