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26 Feb 05 - 10:39 PM (#1421984) Subject: Violin repair Question From: JR 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 |
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26 Feb 05 - 11:35 PM (#1422008) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: GUEST Just like going to an automobile repair shop:
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26 Feb 05 - 11:55 PM (#1422026) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: Pauline L 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. |
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27 Feb 05 - 12:20 AM (#1422048) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: Amos I think consulting a luthier with experience in the business is a wise idea. A |
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27 Feb 05 - 03:54 AM (#1422118) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: GUEST 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 ... |
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27 Feb 05 - 07:37 AM (#1422175) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: Jeri 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. |
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27 Feb 05 - 07:53 AM (#1422181) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: The Fooles Troupe GUEST - you MUST be a wanker, since you don't even know that her dad was a competent luthier... |
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27 Feb 05 - 08:58 AM (#1422200) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: GUEST ..."don't even know whether her dad was a competent luthier"... Fool. |
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27 Feb 05 - 09:16 AM (#1422209) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: wysiwyg 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 |
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27 Feb 05 - 10:58 AM (#1422240) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: GUEST,Rapaire 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. |
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27 Feb 05 - 06:28 PM (#1422361) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: JR Thanks all... glad I didn't mention Gorilla glue to start with... |
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28 Feb 05 - 09:58 AM (#1422858) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: GUEST,JohnB 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 |
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28 Feb 05 - 11:03 AM (#1422929) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: GUEST,Ned Ludd at work 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. |
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28 Feb 05 - 03:32 PM (#1423157) Subject: RE: Violin repair Question From: mooman 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 |