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Another Red Fiddle
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BCShalom
Seattle, WA

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December 23, 2011 - 5:37 am
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Well, I have much to do before this Thread goes viral.  I have a few tools to build, a jig time make and Some spring material that CatMacCall had graciously offered to share with me.  But I am excited.  I must also learn how to post photos on the thread.  So much to do so little time.  

Mind you I am not an experienced wood worker.  I will have a lot to learn, many hard lessons.  some failures I am sure, but hopefully a successful completion for this project.

Wish me luck with the project, and I will record all that I can, as I go.  Purfling comes in the morning, I will take pictures, and post them as soon as I figure out what I am doing here.

I will not be as well spoken as CatMcCall by any stretch of the imagination, so have patience with me, and my efforts.  LOL  As the Old Man used to say, "We're off like a dirty shirt".

I will be building the majority of the fiddle in my Work shop, so I have to clean off the bench and get a stool to sit on, and warmer weather for the majority of the project.

 

Shalom Shalom

crossedfingersviolintonguecoffee1

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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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December 23, 2011 - 10:12 am
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BCShalom,

 

I can't wait to watch you building your violin.  I know it will turn out perfect for you.  These things are a work of love.

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Sofia Leo
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December 23, 2011 - 7:57 pm
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Yay cheerleaderPurfling is fun. Just be sure you dry fit it first - it has to go all the way to the bottom of the channel our you'll rip it out as you plane it level and that will make you say bad words wink Don't be banging on the purfling near the F-holes or you stand a good chance of cracking the plate. Yeah, BTDT...

Don't know how well spoken I am (my Mom has often called me "mouthy") but thanks for your kind words...

P.S. send me your address - catmccall at gmail dot com and I'll put some shim stock in the mail for you on Tuesday.

Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com

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BCShalom
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January 13, 2012 - 8:59 pm
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Well, the U-Build it fiddle may not be red after all.  I can't decide what color if any to make it.  I am slowly amassing tools, inexpensive tools, Cat, to work on it with.  I did buy the scrapers however, and the burnisher.  I got a good deal on them. 

I have the purfeling, I don't think I am spelling that right, dry fitted.  I bought an extra set in case.  But it went in so quickly I think that was a waste of five bucks. Well I will have plenty for the next fiddle.  I am kind a enjoying this building stuff.  I am sure I won't do as well as you are Cat, but, I am learning.

I did replace all the fittings with rosewood, I really like it better than ebony.  

I keep looking at Violins on line and it is making my wife nervous!!  LOL, but how else am I to figure out what color it is going to be. I will take some pictures as soon as I have something to take a picture of.  LOL

Well the adventure is underway.  I can't wait to see if this will be a player or a wall hanging.  At least I have learned a great deal about the instrument.

Shalom Shalom coffee1

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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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January 13, 2012 - 9:11 pm
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With my first violin I took pictures as I went along and with a publishing program wrote down what I was doing and my thoughts about it.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
January 13, 2012 - 10:32 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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Sounds very interesting. You may get me to build one. smile

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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BCShalom
Seattle, WA

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January 14, 2012 - 12:43 pm
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Cat, one thing I forgot to mention, and I have seen this problem written about before with U Build em kits.... the top plates is too small. the ribs are right at the very edge of the top plate when you dry fit them together???  is there a solution or do I need to contact the manufacturer. This will not be a problem when I start the scratch build.

Any suggestions?

I have heard that the wood has to normalize for the humidity of the build location???

When you get a chance Cat or any other fiddle builders.  Thanks.

 

Shalom Shalom

 

coffee1

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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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January 14, 2012 - 1:41 pm
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BC it is best to leave all the wood out in the same area for a day or two.  You might find that the plates will grow larger.

 

As far as kits I have no experience with them. When I build a violin I use a mold and make everything to fit but I do always leave all the wood out for quite some time.  Even after bending the ribs they are then left to reaclimate to the house before cutting them and putting them onto the mold.

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Sofia Leo
Springfield, Oregon

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January 14, 2012 - 2:12 pm
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Cat, one thing I forgot to mention, and I have seen this problem written about before with U Build em kits…. the top plates is too small. the ribs are right at the very edge of the top plate when you dry fit them together???  is there a solution or do I need to contact the manufacturer. This will not be a problem when I start the scratch build.

Any suggestions?

I have heard that the wood has to normalize for the humidity of the build location???

Hold the top plate against the bottom plate and see if they match. My guess is that they will because the parts are (likely - can't verify for sure) cut out with a machine all to the same size. If the plates match, then the ribs are slightly out of true - we're talking about mm here, but it looks like a lot.

The solution is really quite simple and I detailed it in this blog post. I'll quote Stephen Perry (Gianna Violins) here -

"Coat joining surface of top and ribs with light fresh hot glue.  Not too strong.  Let dry.  Clamp top to rib/back combination lightly.  Push and prod ribs into proper position.  Loosen a couple of clamps at a time and add 180 degree water from a brush, just a little, and clamp.  Move around the whole body.  Should glue it fine.  Might want to get the blocks glued first.  Make blocks to ensure that the whole block is pushed together with the top...Your instrument is the shape it is and needs to end up the shape it should be...The situation you describe is not unusual."

Gluing one side at a time is (I've found) the easiest way to square things up without having to worry about glue setting up too much and puts much less stress on your nerves smile

It's more important to be sure that the top plate and the rib garland are perfectly flat for a good fit - sand lightly on a glass table or somesuch and test for wobbling before gluing.

As for humidity, I did bring my kit parts into the house near the woodstove for a couple of days because the wood felt damp, like everything does here in the Winter. In a drier climate I doubt it's a problem.

Be very happy that your purfling fit easily - it's a total drag when you have to fight it! The extra purfling will be useful later, just wait - the perfect project will come along, or, who knows, your next kit may need double purfling amuse

Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com

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BCShalom
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January 14, 2012 - 8:29 pm
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Keven and Cat thanks, I will check a couple of things and let you know how it turns out.

 

Shalom Shalom coffee1

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BCShalom
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January 18, 2012 - 1:17 pm
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Well, I sent a message to Stewart-McDonald and the tech guy said that this is not an uncommon problem, and that he had the solution.  He is going to send me another kit.

 

Ummmmm,  OK, Stewart-McDonald is the company to deal with if you want a Kit Violin, I guess.

So, we shall begin again, at least I had some practice with the Purfling.  Too bad this one had some fairly nice flames on the back, perhaps the new kit will be better?? LOL.

Ok so there. 

 

Shalom Shalom coffee1

 

Oh, that is Stewmac.com

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Kevin M.
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January 18, 2012 - 2:09 pm
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At least you didn't get too far into it and like you said. now you have the practice and on the next one you'll make a big stinger on the purfling.

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Sofia Leo
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January 18, 2012 - 3:16 pm
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Do you have to send the kit back? If not, you could always carve a top to go with the nicely flamed back and start out a whole lot ahead on your second fiddle...Not that you'll probably find building fiddles addictive surprised

Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
January 18, 2012 - 7:24 pm
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That sounds like a great idea.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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BCShalom
Seattle, WA

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January 19, 2012 - 7:00 pm
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Yeah, I have to send the old one back, and will check the flame on the new one and keep the best one that fits. 

Yes, the stinger on the first one was pretty sick, I think I will study purfling some more before I try that again.  I think I know what my mistake was and I will have extra purfling so I will be ale to experiment a bit.

All in all, not bad to practice on the dud before the good one arrives.  I told them I started working on it and discovered the problem so.... I don't know what they want the old dud kit for, unless to verify my claim that it didn't fit.  No problem.  The might use the good parts for sale or to make future kits whole?  Who knows. I plan to build from Scratch anyway in the future, so the experience only benefits me a lot.

Really I am enjoying building this fiddle, addictive, Ummmm could be.....  laugh

Well we are having an ice storm, I think we are going to lose power soon, got to go get some gas for the generators.  Yuck.

 

Shalom Shalom coffee1

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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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January 19, 2012 - 8:00 pm
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Same here. Storm coming, all generators are gased up and the wind turbine batteries all fully charged.

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Sofia Leo
Springfield, Oregon

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January 19, 2012 - 8:06 pm
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The storm finally passed over us - heavy, heavy rain and 100 mph winds. Knocked a tree down onto the van. Looks like homeowners insurance doesn't cover downed trees - imagine that! At least we don't have over two feet of snow like our friends up in Olympia. Good weather to stay inside and build fiddles cheers

Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com

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BCShalom
Seattle, WA

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January 19, 2012 - 8:45 pm
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We only had a foot, but the ice storm has destroyed both of my trees.  Well the Pine might be saved, I don't know.  Rats,

 

Shalom Shalom coffee1

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Kevin M.
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January 20, 2012 - 7:19 pm
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Here is a neck I finished carving out the scroll on.neck-block-copy.jpgImage Enlargerneck.jpgImage Enlarger

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
January 20, 2012 - 8:30 pm
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Beautiful. You are talented. Thanks for posting the pictures.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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