A new violin project started today. #4

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I've made some progress since the last post but its been slow going. Over 30 days so far above 100 degrees so shop times been limited.

I did get the top and back carving done and the bass bar done on the top. Im gluing the back to the corpus today.

Maybe tomorrow I'll glue the top on. Using Fish glue for this.

[Danl8]

Nice work, Kevin. Interesting way to thickness the plates. Presumably that would work for mandolins as well...

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Yes the top and back are carved into arches like archtop Mandolin and archtop guitar. Alot of work on the hardwood!

I did get the corpus closed up and begin the neck bandsawing away tge extra wood.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I have been working on this project and actually string the violin up today in the white.....no finish yet. Before I realized I'd not taken a picture of it I was already disassembling it to prep it for finishing.

I'll start that Monday
I have this picture after I'd stripped it down. The fingerboard is also removed and will be glued back on after the finish is done.

[TEETERFAN]

Killer grain! That baby’s gonna be stunning, with the finish highlighting the wood. Thanks for the update!

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Sealed the surface with gelitan and brushed on some yellow brown dye today as a base color.
Today I'll put on a couple coats of clear oil varnish and maybe one coat of color that ive mixed up. I'm going for a mostly brownish with a hint of yellow and red finish

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Well alright!
I've been putting on color coats for a week or two. I've got 15 color coats on the top and 12 on the back, sides and neck scroll. I like the depth of the slightly reddish mostly brown color. I'll let it dry for 3 days, lightly wet sand with 800 grit then put on 3 or 4 coats of clear. Allow that to dry about 3 weeks then I can finish the finish.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

So I wet sanded the finish on the violin last week and waited for a warm day.....yesterday!!
I brushed on two thin coats of clear varnish. Looking pretty good. I know there is too much varnish on this thing but I'm still learning. I will rub it out in a couple or 3 weeks and reassemble.

My 46 year old daughter told me she'd like to learn to play the violin......she is an accomplished concert pianist!!

So I'm going to surprise her with this one when they come to the USA in April.

[Airplanenuts]

Kevin,

Your craftsmanship is superb! Your violin is beautiful!

Best wishes!

-Rich

[TEETERFAN]

Kevin, I am barely containing my desire to build a violin, which would be totally illogical. I don’t play a violin, nor do I want to learn. I don’t know anyone who plays that I could give one to. Yet seeing these beautiful crafted instruments you are putting out is making it mighty hard to control myself. Of course, I couldn’t hope to equal your superb craftsmanship, but it sure looks like a real fun and rewarding thing to do. Thanks for letting us look over your shoulder on these builds!