WorkBench Logs
Repair Log: 2024-11-28 - [violin-11]
Date: 2024-11-28 Instrument ID: [violin-11] Status Change: checked-in → on-bench
Initial Condition
- Dirty with layers of oil and rosin.
- Detached fingerboard – maybe due to flex of very thin neck?
- Stress cracks in bottom bout ribs – none appear open
- Angled grooves across top – looks like maybe damage that was repaired long ago
- Pegs are short and rough with multiple winding holes
- Lower-treble Top plate corner chipped to rib and bee sting
- Missing purfling in spots on back
- Semi-Opaque varnish layer dissolved in oil/rosin under high-wear areas
- Bridge is mildly flat (non-standard)
- Many open joints on top and bottom
- Metal horizontal pin in top plate (to prevent splintering?)
Work Performed
- cleaning (cotton cloth lightly moist with water)
- Several high wear areas with oil build-up did not hold varnish. Varnish was mostly intact in areas darkened by rosin/dirt
- cleaned fingerboard light plaining – one minor groove still under A, beyond playable position
- Used 192 hide glue to completely seal top and bottom plates and clamped
- Repaired broken plate corners
- Added ground coat and several golden amber (translucent) varnish layers to exposed areas
- After base layers added some opaque acrylic to make top finish look more consistent (left area on ribs translucent)
- Set prepared fingerboard with high GS hide glue, clamped
- Spot varnished joints for protection
- Varnished, polished, top a few more times for durability and look
- Cut and fitted new rosewood pegs (will send original ebony back in case)
- Brought E lower on original bridge and added parchment
- Restring (reused 3 old that were not physically damaged), A needed sleeve to prevent cut
- Allowed varnish to cure under UV light for a few weeks
Parts/Materials Used
- 192gs hide glue
- 251gs hot hide glue (fingerboard)
- Golden amber violin oil varnish
- parchment for bridge
- gelatin and ground coat
- rosewood pegs (new)
- 2000g mesh sandpaper for polishing
- hindersol hindersine polish
- hinderpaste peg compound
Observations & Recommendations
Final Status
Ready to deploy: [x] Yes [ ] No Additional work needed: New Strings Regular maintenance: Due to its age and delicate condition, regular check-ups by a luthier are recommended to ensure it remains playable and to address any emerging issues promptly.
Photos
Before
During Work
After
