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Here's a few pictures of my new shop setup where I will be for the next year along with a couple pictures of the next build. I'm going to be doing a Violin and a Cello at the same time. Here's a couple pictures of the cello wood, mold, and template that I got my hands on. very low quality pictures taken with my phone, and hopefully I will get my hands on a camera here shortly for better pictures through out the builds.

One of these days here shortly I'll also upload the violin wood, which is a pretty highly flamed set of maple ribs, neck, and back.

Here's the pictures.









-Dan

Hey thats cool! Good luck!

Dan, I'm interested in doing a cello, someday. keep us posted on your process. Where'd the mold come from? Are you following a published plan/process?

A buddy of mine attended 4 years of school at the Chicago school of violin making. I have all of his notes, measurements and mold to go off of. One of my instructors sold me the set of wood for a killer price. It's poplar back and sides with a spruce top for 150 bucks. The top alone is about 3" thick in the center to give you an idea of dimensions.

I'm looking forward to getting started, but I'm definitely realistic in how much time it's going to take. I'm really just hoping to get the body/shell closed in the next year.

The violin on the other hand I expect to finish with in this year.

-Dan

Dan,

Keep posting I want to watch both instruments being build. I also have plans to pursue violin building.

John

I am also very interested in this. Keep us posted.

With photos!

Dan you may have seen this but here is somebody's very detailed photo gallery of their cello construction... http://www.jasminedavis.com/cello/gallery/

This will be interesting, but a cello seems like an expensive build, even the strings are expensive :O

Good luck Dan! How is moisture control in your basement shop?

Ken, I got a Delonghi dehumidifier down there now, and it's doing alright. 50ish right now, which will work. It will be dropping soon. The basements heated there, so should be good in the winter, and I've got a humidifier ready for then. High ceilings, strong sealed foundation, so keeps the elements out. The "shop" is doored off all around the room, so it's not any bigger or more open any needed, so should control well.

Unfortunately no pictures, but yesterday I got all 6 violin blocks "perfectly" squared up and set into place in the mold. Just got to shim the mold up 9mm then hide glue the blocks in place. Once that's done I'll have to carve the corners out, and smooth the other blocks. Hopefully that will be done with in the next week.

Today I started the blocks on the cello, got the neck and tail block squared up, but with the blocks being considerably bigger than the violin blocks and my plane blade taking some abuse after hand squaring 8 blocks, there were some setbacks. So I'm going to rehone my plane blade tonight, and return to work on violin tomorrow.

Monday's and Wednesday's I'll be working on my violin, and Tuesday's and Thursday's on my cello. How ever much I fall behind on the cello, I anticipate catching back up over the weekends. These should be some interesting builds. I don't personally own a camera, so here shortly I'm going to try to track down a used digital camera or something that isn't complete junk for keeping these builds going.

Keep your eyes peeled for progress,

Dan