Violin Making

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Section 1

Violin Making Desert




 

A dry climate is best. Kevin Jonathan Lee's violin shop is located in the center of this photograph.

The wood must hang with dry air circulating freely around each piece for at least 7 years.

Wood for a violin: Spruce (belly), maple (back, ribs, scroll) ebony (fingerboard)

Templates for the outline and scroll, with traditional "inside" mold.

Maple and spruce; jointed and glued for the back and belly.











Blocks glued to mold. Ribs cut, planed and scraped to thickness

Ribs, bent to the shape of the mold and ready to be glued.

Gluing ribs onto mold (they are only glued to the blocks).

Linings are cut, scraped and bent to match the mold and ribs (belly and back).

Linings moritsed into blocks and glued.



Section 2











Flatten ribs and linings(closeup of corner mortise).

Ribs finished, back flattened (ready for outline).

cut outline

back ready to arch

Strips of Purfling dyed and ready to glue together







fitting purfling

graduating back

back and ribs

inside sealer

sawing ff holes



Section 3

gluing on belly

cut outline of scroll

cutting fluting


finished scroll



body and scroll ready to mortise

mortised body

ready to glue varnishing handles

in the white

drying in the sun


Section 5 (etc.)

dramatic tiger stripes

golden brown

lustrus brown (the change in color is the reflection off the white table)

plain fire engine red

engraved pegs



If you love violins, you will love "Two Trees" An inspiring story of hope and dreams.

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Copyright 2010 Kevin Lee Luthier