Simple Purfling Jig Setup

I am in the process of making another violin. The back plate is the next phase and I wanted to have a more predictable and secure purfling jig arrangement for doing the harder maple wood back.  Below is a simple design I came up with, as many woodworkers do, of a stabilizing jig.  I thought I might share this with anyone interested.

 This jig was attached to my table saw fence, held in place with two clamps.  The purfling channel cutting jig is held in place by the wood arms and is secured with a c clamp.  Two blocks of wood next to the stabilizing arm eliminate movement from side to side and the weight of the c clamp over the purfling jig is sufficient to keep the jig down at the proper depth. also important with this jig is to have an external power source switch within arms distance as you cut so you can turn the Dremel tool on and off easily.  The Dremel tool is fixed and you move the violin plate with both hands to the right around the jig.  The process is scary but is very controllable. Just make sure to keep the plate in contact with the plate edge perpendicularly to the cutter and down with hand pressure as you work and you won't have any problems. Always test on scrap wood before cutting into the plate to check depth and distance from the plate edge.

Greg's Cello Restoration

I completed the repair of this cello. The neck was broken at the base of the old scroll and the neck was broken out of the instrument destroying the button at the top back of the body.  The button had been repaired before and was mutilated beyond usefulness.   I morticed in a new button tab from inside the back of the instrument, removed the bass bar, added support (cleats) to a bass bar crack, replaced the bass bar over the cleats, replaced the top and installed a new neck.  It was quite a project but a joy in that the instrument was my brother's high school instrument!  Please click on the link below to view the restoration process

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDDj77B0fcQ&feature=em-share_video_user

New PTP! Classes Begin on Janu

New Class Beginning in December

Convertible High Chair/Table

Donna requested that I restore this convertible high chair/table.  It was in pretty bad shape, structurally, most likely due to excessive exposure to moisture and temperature changes.  The seat was falling apart, all the joints were loose, the base/table plate was wrinkled, loose and decayed with the plywood laminations separated from each other.  Other problems included mismatched bolts and screws, a missing spindle and tray top hardware.  It was an enjoyable project and the customers were pleased with the results.  The baby was born during the restoration and the chair awaits his growth to the right size!

Rose High Back Rocker

A woodworker friend of my had this old mahogany rose rocker that a client had given to him quite some time ago sitting around at his house. He said he didn't have the time or engery to fix it and offered it to me. I took it home and it sat around my house for over a year with broken legs and no cane in the seat. I finally decided to get the seat caned after I had fixed the legs. I accidently bumped into a fella that knew a lady that did caning and I decided to give her a shot at it. She did a beautiful job and now we have returned this old gem back to usefulness. What a joy!

http://www.corlissnelsonwoodworks

Cello Neck Replacement

I'm in the process of replacing the neck of this cello for my brother.  This is the instrument he played when he was young.

 

I didn't take a picture of it, but I decided to drill small holes at the base of the tenon show here, create a shallow mortice and insert a new maple button for the disfigured and broken existing button.  It was in too bad shape (broken in half and disfigured) to use. The maple insert was around four inches long and the width of the button (under 30mm).  I chose this method rather than removing the back, which I felt was ill advised. I created the illusion of a center seam going through the button.

 

 

There was a significant base bar crack on the top.  I decided to remove the base bar and attach four cleats to the crack.

 

 

Finally I was able to get to the neck replacement!  I'm still working on refining the shape of the neck. 

 

 

 

Cello Shots

Robby's Fiddle Restoration

Singer/Songwriter and good friend, Robby, received this violin from a relative. I offered to fix some of the problems it had including a shiney lacquer on the fingerboard that had areas of a chipped finish among other problems. The back had come unglued at the bottom block leaving a gap that needed to be closed. The bridge had been poorly fitted, was warped and needed to be replaced. The strings were old, dirty and oxidized.

The violin is old but has no label inside. It is an inexpensive instrument but has pretty darn good tone and would make someone happy to play. There is no ebony anywhere on this instrument. It does have blocks and linings and a well fashioned scroll. I had fun bring this instrument back to use again.

My Daughter

On August 15, 2010 my daughter, Holly went missing while on a pontoon boat with her friends at work.  10 days later her body was found in the general area of where she was last seen.  This has been and continues to be a very difficult time for me, my wife and daughter.  We miss our youngest daughter very much and struggle every day with a range of emotions.  We are people of faith and take comfort in the promises of God in our lives here on earth and the life beyond.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Violin Maker's Shop

Recently I visited Chicago with some very dear friends.  I knew this gentleman had a violin shop there and called to see if I might visit briefly.  He was very gracious with his time and talent.  Michael Darnton is a very accomplished violin maker with whom I came in contact through an online violin making forum.  He has been a regular contributor to the forum and has been very helpful to me (and many others) regarding violin making.  While there I witnessed him carve and fit a new bridge on a viola for a member of the Chicago Symphony.  A very valuable lesson indeed!  I took this snap of him before I left.

Jimmy's Violin Restoration

This very old violin was owed by Jimmy's wife's mother, who received it from her father when she was a young girl.  It is a Czechoslovakian Antonio Stradivarius copy. 
When I received this violin, it was in very poor condition. The rib seams at the area of the end block were wide open having come loose from the top and bottom plates.  Several other areas of the top and bottom plates had open seams.  The end pin was half out of the violin and was bent in the shape of macaroni.  It had bent the rib up and away from the belly and back plates because the strings were still on the violin with significant tension on them.  The end block had completely separated from the top and bottom plates and was only held by the ribs.  The violin had a bent bridge - another indication that the it must have experienced significant humidity and heat to be in this shape.  It appeared to have been hung on a wall because it had a ribbon attached to the fingerboard that was used to hang it up.  The fingerboard was not ebony and had serious grooves from many years of playing. The sound post was missing.  I enjoyed bring this fiddle back to life so that it could continue to be passed from generation to generation as a playable instrument.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

The Final Violin

On April 24, 2010 I finished this violin.  I hope to finish another one by the end of this year between other repairs.

v

Violin Front and Back with Color