ELCB said
@Georganne -

 

WOW! 

 

I'm seriously impressed, almost speechless! (lol)

Congrats, btw - you've got your hands full. 

 

Is it very important, for sound quality, to shave those cleats down flush?  Or, not?  

I don't know but every video I have watched, they were pretty small and smooth, not flush though.  I think it's the smoothness not necessarily the size that makes the most difference.  No hard edges for the sound waves to bounce off of.  

How old/dried was the twig used for the cleats?

Green as my husband just went out and cut it from a tree in our yard.  My thought process is that hopefully as it dries, it will tighten up.  

At what point do you determine if a part is better off being remade, instead of pieced back together? 

Lol well since I don't have means to remake the parts that really should be remade, putting back together is my only option.  I live in the middle of Alaska.  No luthiers here.  

Thank you, for sharing this nice slide presentation! 

 

- Emily

  

Thanks. 

Well that didn't work, so try, try, again.  I had to really give some thought to what the problem was.  The existing surface area was just not flat and so there was even less surface area to form the bond.  I had to grind off some of the existing wood!  That was a bit scary.  Also, it was too difficult to clamp without it moving. 

Well that's as good as that corner is going to get.  

Poor blotchy fella!

Decided to try some stripper.

stringy said
Did you sand before the stripper was applied, and if so what grade sandpaper did you use, and what stripper did you use if you dont mind me asking. I bought a cheap primavera the other day for the equivalent of about 18 US dollars, I intend putting artwork on it but first need to get the varnish off, which because its a cheap fiddle could probably resist a blow torch.😃

  

Lol.  I did sand before I stripped but if I were you, go with the stripper first.  I used Citristrip gel.  Bought it at Lowes for $13, probably cheaper where you live. It has a pleasant smell and is not runny.  I used a cut up card to scrape off then washed it off with a soapy damp shop towel/paper towel and then dried.  A couple areas I had to do two and three times like the scroll.  

I think the sandpaper I used was 220, then 120, then 500.  

ELCB said
@Georganne -

You've done a beautiful job bringing that fiddle back to life! 

Did you wipe it down (after the stripper) with mineral spirits or some other solvent to remove all the residue?  

I love Citristrip, but been afraid this particular stripper would leave the wood too wet or loosen repairs.  Or, were you able to get it off quick enough or just didn't feel it was an issue?  I mean, I've read it isn't even recommended using wet/dry sandpaper because of that little bit of moisture. 

Really interested in your thoughts/observations on this! 

Thanx again, for sharing all this. 🤗

 

 

- Emily 

 

Ooops! I was a little slow, think you answered my questions!

  

I thought it would leave an oily residue but it really didn't!  It says right on it that it does not loosen glue but I was able to clean off a bit of glue squeeze out when I was cleaning it up but that was from the water from the wet paper towel.  All cracks are still fixed and holding well.  That was the first thing I checked out!