Violin repair Question

Subject: Violin repair Question
From: JR
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 10:39 PM

There's a 90 year old woman at the nursing home where I work who has a violin her dad made for her. On one side up near the neck about two inches of the side has "come loose" and straightened out. I have been asked to glue it back. (I'm not particularlly good at that sort of thing... but no one else around.) Should I get out my bottle of Elmers woodworking glue and give it a shot... or would that be committing some sort of an attrocity??? Thanks

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 11:35 PM

Just like going to an automobile repair shop:

What is the:

Make

Model

and Year?

For a 1977 Mustang with a fender ding and primer-paint - yeah take it to a friend's friend apply dry-ice and see what happens.

For a 1965 Cobra.......??????

Look you got a good, steady gig at a nursing home. Why risk your savings and career?

Politely say NO....and say nothing else....no references ... nothing.

Perhaps, the hunk of wood is worthless....but....perhaps, the old lady's heir's believe it WAS priceless (until you mucked around in areas you do not understand) and then destroyed and heirloom treasure.

Do nothing and you are safe ..... attempt to save something of unknown value and your career could become nothing.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: Pauline L
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 11:55 PM

Hell, no! Don't use Elmer's! If you want to be helpful, take it to a reputable store that sells and repairs violins and ask for an estimate of the cost of repairs and the worth of the violin.

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: Amos
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 12:20 AM

I think consulting a luthier with experience in the business is a wise idea.

A

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 03:54 AM

Get a grip, Gargoyle,

..."There's a 90 year old woman at the nursing home where I work who has a violin her dad made for her" ...

The instrument is worthless, just glue it up with Elmers and make an old woman happy.

Sheesh, some of you people ...

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 07:37 AM

It shouldn't cost much for a luthier just to re-glue the top. You don't have to get all the other stuff done which they will inevitably tell you needs to be done - at least not unless the instrument is un-playable without the repairs and the woman wants to play it or expects others to.

I believe luthiers use hide glue for violins. Elmers is fine for things that don't vibrate or have much tension on them, but not for musical instruments. Not unless they're doomed to hang on a wall and never be played.

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 07:53 AM

GUEST - you MUST be a wanker, since you don't even know that her dad was a competent luthier...

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 08:58 AM

..."don't even know whether her dad was a competent luthier"...

Fool.

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 09:16 AM

Hey, name-calling usually is in the BS section, folks.

The answer to the question is, as has been said, check with a luthier. Don't worry too much about the potential cost-- our local luthier, who makes and repairs rare, valuable orchestral violins, recently did a good deed for a local man in his 80's whose fiddles had been stolen from his home. The luthier sharply discounted a decent fiddle (and all the fittings/case) for a good samaritan who wanted to be sure the man could still play every day. So you may find one who would be moved to do this for you, free or very affordably, and you might also be able to find people who would donate toward the expense of repair or replacement.

The reason the kind of glue matters is-- a permanaent wood glue cannot be opened back up at another time should the repair give way or a better fix attempted. Also, the stress that caused the separation will still exist, and a new breakdown may occur that will not open up where the breach first was, but will rip the wood itself-- the glued join being stronger than the adjoining wood.

At the least, if you consult a luthier, you will get some good advice about how to repair it yourself.

Good luck!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: GUEST,Rapaire
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 10:58 AM

Well, there goes my suggestion to repair using Gorilla glue!

Actually, I too was going to suggest a competent luthier. The instrument itself may be of no value on the market, but it obviously means something to the woman. It would to me.

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: JR
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 06:28 PM

Thanks all... glad I didn't mention Gorilla glue to start with...

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 09:58 AM

You can get the Hide glue which you need (read the ONLY type to use for a fiddle) from the Lee Valley Tools Catalogue, it's about 8$can.
The glue comes with instructions and the good part ie that virtually anything you may screw up in the process can be reversed by a competent Luthier.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: GUEST,Ned Ludd at work
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 11:03 AM

See a violin repairer... not all luthiers specialise in violins. a fiddle is a world away from an electric guitar, but the makers of both can call themselves luthiers.

Subject: RE: Violin repair Question
From: mooman
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 03:32 PM

Sounds do-able. Certainly I've reassembled quite a few "basket cases" that sound in much worse condition than this.

You need hide glue...the clear "pearl" type is best, and no other type is ever used on a violin (I don't use anything else for guitar work either but some have different ideas...see previous threads on the subject!). Also different strengths of glue are generally used for different parts of the fiddle. If the side has straightened out it may need to be re-bent which can involve some work with heat or steam (most luthiers use a special (often home-made) bending iron for this).

Where are you based JR?

Peace

moo