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I've just swapped my old chinrest for a different one, but I'm wondering if there are guidelines for how tight to screw them up - is there not a risk of damage to the violin if it's too tight? Might they not come off if too loose?
Warning - some chinrest spanners go too deep into the holes in the pillar (the protruding bit, the business end, the "thing" is too long, by half a millimetre) and can scratch your varnish if you are not careful.
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
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Great question.
My chinrest is an old-fashioned "Dresden" pattern, which mounts asymmetrically, directly over the ribs at the point of use. I am very cautious about removing and refitting: the modern chinrests all appear to mount over the lower block, where there is much more support to mitigate over-tightening.
I can't give any technical support here, but I nip my turnbuckles up to "one white knuckle".
Peter
"It is vain to do with more that which can be done with less" - William of Ockham
"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in" - Frederick the Great
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The mechanical advantage of the turnbuckle threads is half that of a single screw, and the moment arm of the designated tool (or an extended paper clip) is also small. So it would be difficult to express enough force to crush the ribs.
That being said, the mounting system of the Wittner chin rest uses two fine thread screws and a conventional phillips headed screwdriver. A good deal of caution needs to be used in that situation.
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
Honorary tenured advisor
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I have always tightened my chinrests until I just begin to feel resistance. I have never had a chinrest move around. It doesn't have to be tight. The cork pads will keep it from moving with minimal pressure. BTW...if you are currently using a paperclip, dump it and buy a chinrest key. They only cost a few bucks, are much safer when applying/removing a chinrest, and easier to "feel" the resistance when applying a chinrest.
Jim
I made mine from a key off a can of Spam. Cut and filed to fit perfectly. I can use it with a sense of pride that I can't get from my playing the violin.
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Hello again @mryikes . I like that idea (but I dread Spam). I will see if they still offer a similar key on sardine cans. I have a commercial key for the purpose but the pin is as ductile as aluminum.
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
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SPAM is potentially OK, but the modern stuff (I ate a lot of it in the 60s) is granular, as though it contains powdered bone, and that is not good.
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
I actually got mine from a can of corned beef, but I didn't want to sound too uppity.
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MrYikes said
I made mine from a key off a can of Spam. Cut and filed to fit perfectly. I can use it with a sense of pride that I can't get from my playing the violin.
Ahhhhh..... I know JUST what you mean @MrYikes !!!
Still laughing here, nice one ! Thank you 
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Technology comes to the rescue @mryikes. Put one of these on your music stand and use frequently. 
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
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I love corned beef. I don't like canned laughter.
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
I can make my own rimshots, thank you. I've been putting together various drum kits lately. My suitcase kit is almost done. The six-piece kit nests together so I can load in with one trip. The cocktail kit weighs 40 pounds so even a wuss like me can carry it. My old Rogers Holiday kit is just too heavy for me to carry anymore. But it 
still sounds better than any other drum set.
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