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98K views 108 replies 18 participants last post by  Dave10 
#1 ·
Series Intro

Wood Gas Hardwood Wood stain Composite material


I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.
 

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#35 ·
Violin opening knife

Wood Rectangle Office supplies Trowel Tints and shades


A violin opening knife is a very thin, semi-flexible wide-bladed tool used to separate the parts of a violin. The glue used to hold such instruments together is brittle and will let go under stress. Apparently that is a feature, not a flaw.

Wood Rectangle Tints and shades Font Hardwood


For mine, I was too cheap and impatient to find a thin cheese knife, so I took a dollar store spackle knife and after removing the blade from the plastic handle and trimming it down, I sandwiched it between two pieces of mahogany with epoxy. When that was set up, I shaped the handle and further thinned down the blade on my belt grinder. N.B. he blade is not sharp, but just very thin to get between the joints of the instrument. The finish was boiled linseed oil.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

Wood Tableware Saw Tool Hand tool


[Below] mandatory glue up photo!

Wood Table Hardwood Flooring Engineering
 

Attachments

#36 ·
Violin opening knife



A violin opening knife is a very thin, semi-flexible wide-bladed tool used to separate the parts of a violin. The glue used to hold such instruments together is brittle and will let go under stress. Apparently that is a feature, not a flaw.



For mine, I was too cheap and impatient to find a thin cheese knife, so I took a dollar store spackle knife and after removing the blade from the plastic handle and trimming it down, I sandwiched it between two pieces of mahogany with epoxy. When that was set up, I shaped the handle and further thinned down the blade on my belt grinder. N.B. he blade is not sharp, but just very thin to get between the joints of the instrument. The finish was boiled linseed oil.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]



[Below] mandatory glue up photo!

Excellent, there is great satisfaction in making things and even more when you use tools you made to do it.
 

Attachments

#38 ·
2 chisels rehandled

Wood Tool Blade Metal Artifact


I had two chisels without handles. The flatter one is from of old. It was from my dad's stuff. It's purpose when I was growing up was to pry open the old 'extra' refrigerator we had in the basement. The handle of the fridge had broken somewhere in my pre-history. The handle on the chisel was clear yellow plastic. The plastic broke some years ago when I was using the chisel to do chisel stuff. Surprise! It lived for some time in one of my tool boxes, handleless. On the blade I can make out the brand 'Pioneer' but a Google search does not reveal a similar chisel anywhere.

Wood Office supplies Font Writing implement Writing instrument accessory


Wood Blade Knife Metal Artifact


The larger one is from a set of Durex brand that I got soon after getting married. It's handle snapped off in use one day. The others from the set are still intact. I wonder if I have the right to replace the plastic handles so that they all match?

Wood Table Tool Hardwood Rectangle


The handles that I put on these were some sort of square spindle with a tenon on each end. I cut the piece in half make two nice sized handles. The tenon is just a tiny bit oversize for the copper ferrules, but that gives then a good tight fit. Easy peasy job as they say. I did lightly sand the new handles and then treated them with the standard boiled linseed oil. They look a bit antiquey, but 'll sharpen them up. One is a 1 inch chisel, the other 1/2 inch. It has a nick in it.

These aren't meant to be hammered on and I'm likely only to be paring with them in lutherie.
 

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#39 ·
2 chisels rehandled

Wood Tool Blade Metal Artifact


I had two chisels without handles. The flatter one is from of old. It was from my dad's stuff. It's purpose when I was growing up was to pry open the old 'extra' refrigerator we had in the basement. The handle of the fridge had broken somewhere in my pre-history. The handle on the chisel was clear yellow plastic. The plastic broke some years ago when I was using the chisel to do chisel stuff. Surprise! It lived for some time in one of my tool boxes, handleless. On the blade I can make out the brand 'Pioneer' but a Google search does not reveal a similar chisel anywhere.

Wood Office supplies Font Writing implement Writing instrument accessory


Wood Blade Knife Metal Artifact


The larger one is from a set of Durex brand that I got soon after getting married. It's handle snapped off in use one day. The others from the set are still intact. I wonder if I have the right to replace the plastic handles so that they all match?

Wood Table Tool Hardwood Rectangle


The handles that I put on these were some sort of square spindle with a tenon on each end. I cut the piece in half make two nice sized handles. The tenon is just a tiny bit oversize for the copper ferrules, but that gives then a good tight fit. Easy peasy job as they say. I did lightly sand the new handles and then treated them with the standard boiled linseed oil. They look a bit antiquey, but 'll sharpen them up. One is a 1 inch chisel, the other 1/2 inch. It has a nick in it.

These aren't meant to be hammered on and I'm likely only to be paring with them in lutherie.
Nice, I love giving old beat up tools a new life!
 

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#41 ·
Improved bow hair gauge out of brass

Wood Gesture Finger Thumb Rectangle


My first hair gauge [link] wasn't quite what I wanted it to be so I kept an upgrade in the back of my head. The other night I spotted this string gauge [Below] and it inspired me to make something extremely similar to measure bow hair.

Rectangle Wood Household hardware Metal Fashion accessory


I made this new hair gauge using brass strip 1/2 inch wide and about 2 inches long. I used a wood coffee stirer to space them apart about 1/16 of an inch and soldered a brass cleat along one edge on both sides. Then I cleaned it up with my bench grinder, random orbit sander and a polishing block. I drilled a hole in the joined end to allow a lanyard for hanging. Theoretically I will hang this near the hank of hair, which, from what I've seen, is usually stored in the hanging position.

I used my re-haired 4/4 bow and my new Cheap-A 1/4 size bow to mark the volume of hair for each. The marks are not very far apart, so I doubt that I'll need marks for a 1/2 size or 3/4 size. We'll see what happens when I get into viola, cello, and base bows. Effectively I have 4 surfaces to make marks, one for each type of instrument so I should be okay.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

Textile Sleeve Wood Collar Bag


Wood Flooring Hardwood Gas Automotive tire


Wood Tool Gas Machine tool Milling
 

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#42 ·
Improved bow hair gauge out of brass

Wood Gesture Finger Thumb Rectangle


My first hair gauge [link] wasn't quite what I wanted it to be so I kept an upgrade in the back of my head. The other night I spotted this string gauge [Below] and it inspired me to make something extremely similar to measure bow hair.

Rectangle Wood Household hardware Metal Fashion accessory


I made this new hair gauge using brass strip 1/2 inch wide and about 2 inches long. I used a wood coffee stirer to space them apart about 1/16 of an inch and soldered a brass cleat along one edge on both sides. Then I cleaned it up with my bench grinder, random orbit sander and a polishing block. I drilled a hole in the joined end to allow a lanyard for hanging. Theoretically I will hang this near the hank of hair, which, from what I've seen, is usually stored in the hanging position.

I used my re-haired 4/4 bow and my new Cheap-A 1/4 size bow to mark the volume of hair for each. The marks are not very far apart, so I doubt that I'll need marks for a 1/2 size or 3/4 size. We'll see what happens when I get into viola, cello, and base bows. Effectively I have 4 surfaces to make marks, one for each type of instrument so I should be okay.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

Textile Sleeve Wood Collar Bag


Wood Flooring Hardwood Gas Automotive tire


Wood Tool Gas Machine tool Milling
Nicely upgraded, Dave!
 

Attachments

#43 ·
A few hole clamps

Wood Typesetting Font Gas Tints and shades


I made these in anticipation of someday being tasked to repair cracks in violins. I made them from a, (or a few) Pend-A-flex hanger frames (one is shown above framing the three clamps.) The U-shaped part is threaded on both ends, while the straight bar has a threadable through hole in each end. I simply bent the frames into a C shape as small as possible on my machinists vise and fit either a 1/4 inch bolt or a #10 bolt in an appropriate hole. The smallest of the three I had to flatted then end to drill and tap it. This is a start, but 'll be building a collection of these in various sizes. You can't have too many clamps!

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

[Below] This is one thing he clamps are used for:

Musical instrument Wood Violin family String instrument Guitar accessory


[Below] This is the commercial style that I was aiming for:

Rectangle Font Parallel Automotive exterior Auto part


[Below]: The sort of oval shaped one with the two screws is more of a guitar bridge clamp, but it could come in handy regardless:

Rectangle Tool Bicycle part Gas Composite material
 

Attachments

#44 ·
A few hole clamps

Wood Typesetting Font Gas Tints and shades


I made these in anticipation of someday being tasked to repair cracks in violins. I made them from a, (or a few) Pend-A-flex hanger frames (one is shown above framing the three clamps.) The U-shaped part is threaded on both ends, while the straight bar has a threadable through hole in each end. I simply bent the frames into a C shape as small as possible on my machinists vise and fit either a 1/4 inch bolt or a #10 bolt in an appropriate hole. The smallest of the three I had to flatted then end to drill and tap it. This is a start, but 'll be building a collection of these in various sizes. You can't have too many clamps!

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

[Below] This is one thing he clamps are used for:

Musical instrument Wood Violin family String instrument Guitar accessory


[Below] This is the commercial style that I was aiming for:

Rectangle Font Parallel Automotive exterior Auto part


[Below]: The sort of oval shaped one with the two screws is more of a guitar bridge clamp, but it could come in handy regardless:

Rectangle Tool Bicycle part Gas Composite material
Dave, you are really inspirational in your manufacture of these lutherie tools. I applaud you, sir!
 

Attachments

#46 ·
String jack or lifter for cello

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Flooring Hardwood


This is a device that lifts the strings off of the bridge of a musical instrument so that the bridge can be removed during the fitting/adjustment process. I think i first saw one of these in a video on YouTube. After looking it up, I decided it was definitely something I could make. It's basically a thick bridge, this one is for a 3/4 cello, which has a top piece which lifts with the assistance of a screw. The top piece runs on guides. The commercial products run in slides on the sides while homemade ones I've seen use a pair of dowels in the body of the tool.

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Hardwood Flooring


Judging by the color of the grain, mine is made of poplar. I chose it because it was a convenient piece of 1/2 inch thick material. I added splines to the edges for strength because the grain runs short. I used brass pins and a #10 screw for the hardware. I threaded the wood directly instead of adding a nut somewhere. I stained it with Golden oak stain to cover up the green grain color.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

[Below] Mandatory glue up photo. I made two blanks in case of mishap. I may also have a use for the second one

Rectangle Wood Architecture Automotive exterior Metal


[Below] Someone else's collection of string lifters.

Wood Tower Art Font Rectangle


[Below] These pics should give an idea of how this is used.

Musical instrument Furniture Table Guitar Guitar accessory


Musical instrument String instrument Classical music Violin family String instrument


String instrument String instrument Guitar accessory Wood Musical instrument
 

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#47 ·
String jack or lifter for cello

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Flooring Hardwood


This is a device that lifts the strings off of the bridge of a musical instrument so that the bridge can be removed during the fitting/adjustment process. I think i first saw one of these in a video on YouTube. After looking it up, I decided it was definitely something I could make. It's basically a thick bridge, this one is for a 3/4 cello, which has a top piece which lifts with the assistance of a screw. The top piece runs on guides. The commercial products run in slides on the sides while homemade ones I've seen use a pair of dowels in the body of the tool.

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Hardwood Flooring


Judging by the color of the grain, mine is made of poplar. I chose it because it was a convenient piece of 1/2 inch thick material. I added splines to the edges for strength because the grain runs short. I used brass pins and a #10 screw for the hardware. I threaded the wood directly instead of adding a nut somewhere. I stained it with Golden oak stain to cover up the green grain color.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

[Below] Mandatory glue up photo. I made two blanks in case of mishap. I may also have a use for the second one

Rectangle Wood Architecture Automotive exterior Metal


[Below] Someone else's collection of string lifters.

Wood Tower Art Font Rectangle


[Below] These pics should give an idea of how this is used.

Musical instrument Furniture Table Guitar Guitar accessory


Musical instrument String instrument Classical music Violin family String instrument


String instrument String instrument Guitar accessory Wood Musical instrument
Aha! I didn't notice the notches on top until the last two images. Now, I see! This is fun to learn, Dave.
 

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#48 ·
Violin bridge jigs

Wood Toy Aircraft Airplane Fashion accessory


It stands to reason that if I need bridge jigs for a cello, [link 1] [link 2] I'll need bridge jigs for a violin as well. I made these out of some scrap wood. The bridge fitting jig (on the right above) was made from oak. The string jack/lifter is from poplar. I made the blank for it at the time I made the blank for the cello string lifter.

Brass hardware gives a tiny touch of class to jigs which are very utilitarian.

I finished the string lifter with golden oak stain and the bridge fitting jig with danish oil.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

[Below] I had to cut the tail off the bridge fitter because I made it too long. I refitted the wheel to the shorter tail.

Hand tool Wood Saw Tool Hardwood


[Below] Here's what a commercial bridge fitter looks.

Automotive tire Auto part Automotive wheel system Wood Metal


A few more pics:

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Metal Plywood


Wood Font Rectangle Metal Fashion accessory


Family photo of the cello and violin jigs:

Wood Font Metal Fashion accessory Motor vehicle


Here's a picture of the bridge jig in use on a 3/4 violin.

Musical instrument String instrument Wood String instrument Folk instrument
 

Attachments

#49 ·
Violin bridge jigs

Wood Toy Aircraft Airplane Fashion accessory


It stands to reason that if I need bridge jigs for a cello, [link 1] [link 2] I'll need bridge jigs for a violin as well. I made these out of some scrap wood. The bridge fitting jig (on the right above) was made from oak. The string jack/lifter is from poplar. I made the blank for it at the time I made the blank for the cello string lifter.

Brass hardware gives a tiny touch of class to jigs which are very utilitarian.

I finished the string lifter with golden oak stain and the bridge fitting jig with danish oil.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

[Below] I had to cut the tail off the bridge fitter because I made it too long. I refitted the wheel to the shorter tail.

Hand tool Wood Saw Tool Hardwood


[Below] Here's what a commercial bridge fitter looks.

Automotive tire Auto part Automotive wheel system Wood Metal


A few more pics:

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Metal Plywood


Wood Font Rectangle Metal Fashion accessory


Family photo of the cello and violin jigs:

Wood Font Metal Fashion accessory Motor vehicle


Here's a picture of the bridge jig in use on a 3/4 violin.

Musical instrument String instrument Wood String instrument Folk instrument
I'm convinced that string jacks are just ugly ducklings.
 

Attachments

#52 ·
Small size sound post setter

Hand Plant Gesture Finger Creative arts


I already own two violin size sound post setting tools which I purchased online. The other day I was setting a sound post in a less than full size instrument and I got the feeling I was stretching the limits of the tool. I got the post set successfully, but it entered my mind that a smaller tool might be handy for if I should have to work on a 1/4 size violin or smaller someday.

So today I went down into my woodshop, took a piece of 1/4 iinch flat brass and went to work with the grinder shaping the profile of the pick end and the hook end. I soldered on a cross piece for the hook because it needs to be able to push, pull, and tap the post into position. The semi-circle indents were formed with a rattail file. The pick end was formed by giving the bar a 1/4 twist and shaping the point like the one I already own.

This tool is about 3/4 size of the standard sound post setting tool and should serve me well when the need arises. For anyone who has no idea what the heck I'm talking about, here is a short Youtube video showing a sound post being inserted into a cello. The principle is the same as a violin, although the tools and instrument are larger.



A few pictures of my tool in progress:

Wood Electrical wiring Gas Auto part Engineering


Wood Gas Machine Motor vehicle Automotive exterior


See the other Luthier tools I've made. [link]
 

Attachments

#53 ·
Small size sound post setter

Hand Plant Gesture Finger Creative arts


I already own two violin size sound post setting tools which I purchased online. The other day I was setting a sound post in a less than full size instrument and I got the feeling I was stretching the limits of the tool. I got the post set successfully, but it entered my mind that a smaller tool might be handy for if I should have to work on a 1/4 size violin or smaller someday.

So today I went down into my woodshop, took a piece of 1/4 iinch flat brass and went to work with the grinder shaping the profile of the pick end and the hook end. I soldered on a cross piece for the hook because it needs to be able to push, pull, and tap the post into position. The semi-circle indents were formed with a rattail file. The pick end was formed by giving the bar a 1/4 twist and shaping the point like the one I already own.

This tool is about 3/4 size of the standard sound post setting tool and should serve me well when the need arises. For anyone who has no idea what the heck I'm talking about, here is a short Youtube video showing a sound post being inserted into a cello. The principle is the same as a violin, although the tools and instrument are larger.



A few pictures of my tool in progress:

Wood Electrical wiring Gas Auto part Engineering


Wood Gas Machine Motor vehicle Automotive exterior


See the other Luthier tools I've made. [link]
Nice work Dave. I've been following your luthier blogs, the enthusiasm is infectious. Well done!

This Chinese double bass post setter was $25 when the time comes.

Wood Twig Font Rectangle Tints and shades
 

Attachments

#57 ·
Neck Clamps for Violin, Cello, etc...

Musical instrument Wood Guitar accessory String instrument accessory Violin


There are at least two instruments in the shop that need necks reattached. I was shown how to do this when the entire neck is detached, but two cellos are broken at the joint and the method shown me might not work so well. Google to the rescue! I found photos of commercially available models, selling for multiple tens of dollars, and decided I could make my own.

Wood Varnish Hardwood Font Wood stain


I used some of the mahogany at my disposal, some 3/8 in. threaded rod, and some sheet cork I was given a few years ago. Failng that, I would have used some leather I have around the shop. I had to purchase 4 wing nuts for the rod, but I had plenty of nuts for the opposite ends. Some clear tubing was also purchased to slip on the rod to protect the instrument from the saw-like edges of the thread.

Mandatory Glue-up photo. I attached a small disk to the 'bottom' pieces to better focus the pressure of the clamp on the 'button' of the neck. This is also a feature of the plain, faceless commercial models.

Wood Hardwood Musical instrument Engineering Varnish


Cork shown on the concave upper jaw and on the disk of the bottom jaw.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering Metal


Violin clamp shown as it woukld be used, though it would be best to remove the strings before making any repair.

Musical instrument Guitar accessory Violin family Wood String instrument


See the other Luthier tools I've made. [link]
 

Attachments

#58 ·
Neck Clamps for Violin, Cello, etc...

Musical instrument Wood Guitar accessory String instrument accessory Violin


There are at least two instruments in the shop that need necks reattached. I was shown how to do this when the entire neck is detached, but two cellos are broken at the joint and the method shown me might not work so well. Google to the rescue! I found photos of commercially available models, selling for multiple tens of dollars, and decided I could make my own.

Wood Varnish Hardwood Font Wood stain


I used some of the mahogany at my disposal, some 3/8 in. threaded rod, and some sheet cork I was given a few years ago. Failng that, I would have used some leather I have around the shop. I had to purchase 4 wing nuts for the rod, but I had plenty of nuts for the opposite ends. Some clear tubing was also purchased to slip on the rod to protect the instrument from the saw-like edges of the thread.

Mandatory Glue-up photo. I attached a small disk to the 'bottom' pieces to better focus the pressure of the clamp on the 'button' of the neck. This is also a feature of the plain, faceless commercial models.

Wood Hardwood Musical instrument Engineering Varnish


Cork shown on the concave upper jaw and on the disk of the bottom jaw.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering Metal


Violin clamp shown as it woukld be used, though it would be best to remove the strings before making any repair.

Musical instrument Guitar accessory Violin family Wood String instrument


See the other Luthier tools I've made. [link]
Tools are looking good. I am enjoying following this blog.
 

Attachments

#63 ·
Copper Pencil extender

Office supplies Writing implement Stationery Golf Tints and shades


I know this is reaching a little bit. I made this pencil extender to use in the music shop because I keep a pencil in a pocket of my apron and as it gets shorter and shorter, There comes a point where I can't easily reach it. this way it is kept at pretty much the length of a pencil.

I made it from a piece of copper pipe just over the inner diameter of a random pencil I grabbed. The end is capped and the open end has half of an extension sleeve on it. I drilled and tapped a 6-32 hole in that collar to hold the pencil from retracting and getting lost.
 

Attachments

#64 ·
Copper Pencil extender

Office supplies Writing implement Stationery Golf Tints and shades


I know this is reaching a little bit. I made this pencil extender to use in the music shop because I keep a pencil in a pocket of my apron and as it gets shorter and shorter, There comes a point where I can't easily reach it. this way it is kept at pretty much the length of a pencil.

I made it from a piece of copper pipe just over the inner diameter of a random pencil I grabbed. The end is capped and the open end has half of an extension sleeve on it. I drilled and tapped a 6-32 hole in that collar to hold the pencil from retracting and getting lost.
I like that. I have a bunch of too short pencils
 

Attachments

#66 ·
Rotary File/Hole Chamfer tool

Musical instrument Wood Art Wind instrument Hardwood


In looking around for the best buys on the tools I actually have to buy versus make to repair bowed string insytruments, I encountered a tool that I haven't missed having-yet. Seeing that it's looks like a counter sink bit on a handle, I made one.

Table Wood Floor Flooring Wood stain


Wood Wood stain Plank Hardwood Varnish


The handle is a turned spindle that I saved from a piece of furniture for just such a use. I just had to shorten it and drill a hole in one end to accept the counter sink bit on one end. I glued it in with epoxy and gave the wood a good coat of boiled linseed oil. I do plan on making stringed instruments, so this will get some use. It's purpose is to very slightly chamfer the outer edge of tuning peg holes so that there's no flash to interfere with the peg.

Below you can see a commercial model demonstrating its use.

Wood Finger Elbow Electric blue Fashion accessory
 

Attachments

#67 ·
Rotary File/Hole Chamfer tool

Musical instrument Wood Art Wind instrument Hardwood


In looking around for the best buys on the tools I actually have to buy versus make to repair bowed string insytruments, I encountered a tool that I haven't missed having-yet. Seeing that it's looks like a counter sink bit on a handle, I made one.

Table Wood Floor Flooring Wood stain


Wood Wood stain Plank Hardwood Varnish


The handle is a turned spindle that I saved from a piece of furniture for just such a use. I just had to shorten it and drill a hole in one end to accept the counter sink bit on one end. I glued it in with epoxy and gave the wood a good coat of boiled linseed oil. I do plan on making stringed instruments, so this will get some use. It's purpose is to very slightly chamfer the outer edge of tuning peg holes so that there's no flash to interfere with the peg.

Below you can see a commercial model demonstrating its use.

Wood Finger Elbow Electric blue Fashion accessory
Handy little tool, Dave!
 

Attachments

#69 ·
Violin Crack Clamp

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Pattern


Last week I found a violin in the bone pile that looks like it's trying to crack in half lengthwise. Not having any appropriate clamp to hold such a thing together for gluing, I put my mind to it and came up with this clamp.

Musical instrument Wood String instrument accessory Folk instrument String instrument


I made it out of 3/4 inch mahogany, using two pieces on each side. I did that so that I could easily create the groove on the inside of the curved parts to engage the lip on the edge of the violin. The groove is shallow so the clamp body won't press on the rib/sides of the instrument. I lined the inside with leather to prevent marring of the finish. A 1/4 inch bolt runs through the one end of the clamp to provide pressure. The shape of the clamp, causes it to 'hug' the instrument. If needed I can always put a bar clamp on the other end, but I don't see that as being necessary.

The only down side of this kind of clamp is that I will have to make one for each size instrument. This one in particular is for a 1/2 size violin. Most of the instruments in the shop are 3/4 or 4/4, so I'll need to make at least two more of these sooner or later.

More Pics:

Fluid Wood Gas Table Font


Wood Hardwood Wood stain Varnish Tool


Mandatory Glue up pic:

Wood Gas Hardwood Engineering Wood stain


Check out the other tools I've made for this craft! [link]
 

Attachments

#70 ·
Violin Crack Clamp

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Pattern


Last week I found a violin in the bone pile that looks like it's trying to crack in half lengthwise. Not having any appropriate clamp to hold such a thing together for gluing, I put my mind to it and came up with this clamp.

Musical instrument Wood String instrument accessory Folk instrument String instrument


I made it out of 3/4 inch mahogany, using two pieces on each side. I did that so that I could easily create the groove on the inside of the curved parts to engage the lip on the edge of the violin. The groove is shallow so the clamp body won't press on the rib/sides of the instrument. I lined the inside with leather to prevent marring of the finish. A 1/4 inch bolt runs through the one end of the clamp to provide pressure. The shape of the clamp, causes it to 'hug' the instrument. If needed I can always put a bar clamp on the other end, but I don't see that as being necessary.

The only down side of this kind of clamp is that I will have to make one for each size instrument. This one in particular is for a 1/2 size violin. Most of the instruments in the shop are 3/4 or 4/4, so I'll need to make at least two more of these sooner or later.

More Pics:

Fluid Wood Gas Table Font


Wood Hardwood Wood stain Varnish Tool


Mandatory Glue up pic:

Wood Gas Hardwood Engineering Wood stain


Check out the other tools I've made for this craft! [link]
Well done, great thinking.
 

Attachments

#75 ·
Brass sound post plier

Terrestrial plant Finger Wood Tool Natural material


This is a tool that is used to adjust the position of a sound post in a violin. A sound post is like a length of dowel that is wedged between the top and back of a string instrument to help transmit the sound from the strings to the back (little more complicated actually, but that explanation will suffice.)

I bought one of these that is about 8 inches, but discovered during use on the smaller violins that a more petite model would be handy. I used two 6 inch brass rulers, $1 each on eBay. I printed out a photo of a comercial model and used it as a template. I love my hand made tools.

Wood Natural material Hardwood Tableware Composite material


[Above] The one at top is my store bought plier. The lower one is my hand made one.

Musical instrument Violin family String instrument String instrument Guitar accessory


[Above and below] Showing about what this is used for. A different too is used to get the sound post in and retrieve it (when necessary.
)
String instrument Musical instrument Violin family String instrument String instrument accessory


[Below] I made my own rivet from a brass screw. I ground off the slotin the head, cut it to length, and crowned over the other side.

Wood Motor vehicle Bumper Gas Auto part


See the other tools I've made for my new craft! [link]
 

Attachments

#76 ·
Brass sound post plier

Terrestrial plant Finger Wood Tool Natural material


This is a tool that is used to adjust the position of a sound post in a violin. A sound post is like a length of dowel that is wedged between the top and back of a string instrument to help transmit the sound from the strings to the back (little more complicated actually, but that explanation will suffice.)

I bought one of these that is about 8 inches, but discovered during use on the smaller violins that a more petite model would be handy. I used two 6 inch brass rulers, $1 each on eBay. I printed out a photo of a comercial model and used it as a template. I love my hand made tools.

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[Above] The one at top is my store bought plier. The lower one is my hand made one.

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[Above and below] Showing about what this is used for. A different too is used to get the sound post in and retrieve it (when necessary.
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[Below] I made my own rivet from a brass screw. I ground off the slotin the head, cut it to length, and crowned over the other side.



See the other tools I've made for my new craft! [link]
Your luthier's tool box is quickly filling, Dave! Your version looks a tiny bit thinner than the store bought one. Is it still sturdy enough to do its job? Do you have a link for the eBay source?
 

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#83 ·
More spool clamps

Wood Circuit component Tool Diode Metalworking hand tool


I continue my acquisition of toolls for repairing cellos and contra basses. These add to the orignal dozen that I need for bssses and get me closrr to the two dozen I want to have for cellos.

FYI the dowel pieces for these were salvaged from an old snow shovel handle. Never throw a wooden handle out. It's just a big dowel after all. They cost $$ if you have to buy them!

[Below] Witness that my daughter's animals tend to cause trouble if left to themselves.

Textile Wood Flooring Pattern Art
 

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#84 ·
More spool clamps

Wood Circuit component Tool Diode Metalworking hand tool


I continue my acquisition of toolls for repairing cellos and contra basses. These add to the orignal dozen that I need for bssses and get me closrr to the two dozen I want to have for cellos.

FYI the dowel pieces for these were salvaged from an old snow shovel handle. Never throw a wooden handle out. It's just a big dowel after all. They cost $$ if you have to buy them!

[Below] Witness that my daughter's animals tend to cause trouble if left to themselves.

Textile Wood Flooring Pattern Art
Nice clamps, and I agree: never throw away an old handle. There's always something useful to be done with it.
 

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#85 ·
A few deep reach clamps

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I made one of these as an experiment and I ened up using it in the orchestral repair shop to hold two edges of a violin face crack. I figured it couldn't hurt to make a few more. Sometimes I have to repair multiple instruments in a day.

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I made two sizes, 5 in. And 7 in deep with a capacity of 2-1/4 inches. Turns out this is a little small for a full size fiddle, but then most of our violins are 3/4 size and smaller. I'll make a few larger ones eventually for full size violins and violas.

Sleeve Wood Metal Fashion accessory Door


The little black 'bandage' is a piece of inner tube to help the clamp grip the instrument and cushion it a bit. These clamps are always used with cauls and are too big to go inside the instrument through the F-hole.
 

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#86 ·
A few deep reach clamps

Table Furniture Wood Font Gas


I made one of these as an experiment and I ened up using it in the orchestral repair shop to hold two edges of a violin face crack. I figured it couldn't hurt to make a few more. Sometimes I have to repair multiple instruments in a day.

Wood Tool Material property Tints and shades Eyewear


I made two sizes, 5 in. And 7 in deep with a capacity of 2-1/4 inches. Turns out this is a little small for a full size fiddle, but then most of our violins are 3/4 size and smaller. I'll make a few larger ones eventually for full size violins and violas.

Sleeve Wood Metal Fashion accessory Door


The little black 'bandage' is a piece of inner tube to help the clamp grip the instrument and cushion it a bit. These clamps are always used with cauls and are too big to go inside the instrument through the F-hole.
Nice. This is one of the many fun things about woodworking, if you need a specialized tool, you can make it.
 

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#87 ·
Small brass soundpost setter

Hand Wood Gesture Plant Finger


I was looking around for pictures of violin soundpost setters when I found one on eBay with a ram's horn hook on one end (my term).

Its uniqueness attracted me, so I went down to my workshop, grabbed a length of 1/4 inch brass strip. I split one end with a hack saw and cold chisel and shaped the ram's horns with taps of a ball peen hammer. After I got that end to look satisfactory, I used files, my belt and disc sander, and a brass wire wheel to shape and polish the instrument. I actually had to use it today on a 1/2 size violin and it worked like a champ.

Wood Finger Thumb Nail Close-up


Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Violin Fiddle


Musical instrument Violin family Violin Guitar accessory String instrument


[Below] Comparison of my ram's horn and a standard violin soundpost setter.

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#88 ·
Small brass soundpost setter

Hand Wood Gesture Plant Finger


I was looking around for pictures of violin soundpost setters when I found one on eBay with a ram's horn hook on one end (my term).

Its uniqueness attracted me, so I went down to my workshop, grabbed a length of 1/4 inch brass strip. I split one end with a hack saw and cold chisel and shaped the ram's horns with taps of a ball peen hammer. After I got that end to look satisfactory, I used files, my belt and disc sander, and a brass wire wheel to shape and polish the instrument. I actually had to use it today on a 1/2 size violin and it worked like a champ.

Wood Finger Thumb Nail Close-up


Musical instrument Violin family String instrument Violin Fiddle


Musical instrument Violin family Violin Guitar accessory String instrument


[Below] Comparison of my ram's horn and a standard violin soundpost setter.

Twig Grass Terrestrial animal Terrestrial plant Tail
Sharp lookin' tool you made, Sir.
 

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#90 ·
Violin and Cello Stick Clamps

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I have a project coming up, so I'm gearing up beforehand. I have a cello to repair in a fairly major way. The larger clamps are for the cello, though they may be long enough for a double bass, or at least not a full size one. The smaller clamps are meant for violins, though they may even fit on a viola.

The sticks are 1/4" dowels and the heads are mahagony. There is a slight chance the heads might come off even though they are glued, so I may pin them before use.

The clamping pressure is applied manually. I figure the stick will be pulled through the head with the wingnut and pressure supplied by the thumb pressing on it. A great deal of pressure should not be required, just enough to hold things together for a while. The cushions you see are slices of a wine cork. The overhanging edge of the instrument should fit in the depression against the cork and thus not recieve damage.

These are finished with spray lacquer to help give the clamp heads something to bite into.

Grass Metal Fashion accessory Soil Musical instrument


Wood Grass Metal Soil Circle


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Intended use:

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Prototype:

Wood Tints and shades Gas Landscape Metal
 

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#91 ·
Violin and Cello Stick Clamps



I have a project coming up, so I'm gearing up beforehand. I have a cello to repair in a fairly major way. The larger clamps are for the cello, though they may be long enough for a double bass, or at least not a full size one. The smaller clamps are meant for violins, though they may even fit on a viola.

The sticks are 1/4" dowels and the heads are mahagony. There is a slight chance the heads might come off even though they are glued, so I may pin them before use.

The clamping pressure is applied manually. I figure the stick will be pulled through the head with the wingnut and pressure supplied by the thumb pressing on it. A great deal of pressure should not be required, just enough to hold things together for a while. The cushions you see are slices of a wine cork. The overhanging edge of the instrument should fit in the depression against the cork and thus not recieve damage.

These are finished with spray lacquer to help give the clamp heads something to bite into.







Intended use:



Prototype:

Interesting, I've this sort of clamp.
 

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#92 ·
Brass bridge templates and bevel gauge

Tints and shades Font Rectangle Metal Fashion accessory


Office ruler Blade Wood Fashion accessory Metal


To badly mis-paraphrase a character from Babylon 5, "Zathras wants to have something nice."

A while ago I made a set of templates out of plastic for creating the arc that is on the top of violin and cello bridges. I was determined that eventually I would replace them with brass ones once I found a source for the brass. Well, eBay sells this 5-inch brass ruler that is an inch wide for less than $2 each…

So I decided to start with a template for a full size violin and cello. I'll work down from there as I get material and will conquer the double bass bridge template last.

It's simple enough to trace the template onto the brass, cut them apart with a hack saw and sand them to final shape and they look cool with the remains of the ruler on the back. I also filed notches onto the bottom to denote the size. In this case, 4 notches means 4/4 (or full size.) 3 notches will mean 3/4, and when I get down to the 7/8 size bridge, I'll put 7 notches, 3 pairs with a single for easy ID-ing.

Wood Scale Triangle Tool Font


I also made a small, simple, bevel gauge because I've heard I'll need one in the craft eventually for transferring the angle on sound posts. I made it out of some brass flats that I had in my 'brass drawer.'

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Plastic may be a space age material, but I like old school for some things.

Brown Wood Rectangle Flooring Wood stain
 

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#93 ·
Brass bridge templates and bevel gauge

Tints and shades Font Rectangle Metal Fashion accessory


Office ruler Blade Wood Fashion accessory Metal


To badly mis-paraphrase a character from Babylon 5, "Zathras wants to have something nice."

A while ago I made a set of templates out of plastic for creating the arc that is on the top of violin and cello bridges. I was determined that eventually I would replace them with brass ones once I found a source for the brass. Well, eBay sells this 5-inch brass ruler that is an inch wide for less than $2 each…

So I decided to start with a template for a full size violin and cello. I'll work down from there as I get material and will conquer the double bass bridge template last.

It's simple enough to trace the template onto the brass, cut them apart with a hack saw and sand them to final shape and they look cool with the remains of the ruler on the back. I also filed notches onto the bottom to denote the size. In this case, 4 notches means 4/4 (or full size.) 3 notches will mean 3/4, and when I get down to the 7/8 size bridge, I'll put 7 notches, 3 pairs with a single for easy ID-ing.

Wood Scale Triangle Tool Font


I also made a small, simple, bevel gauge because I've heard I'll need one in the craft eventually for transferring the angle on sound posts. I made it out of some brass flats that I had in my 'brass drawer.'

Font Rectangle Wood Material property Parallel


Font Material property Triangle Pattern Circle


Wood Rectangle Hardwood Plywood Font


Event Terrestrial plant Darkness Terrestrial animal Fur


Plastic may be a space age material, but I like old school for some things.

Brown Wood Rectangle Flooring Wood stain
Very nice. The bevel gauge looks useful in general.
 

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#97 ·
Scraper, well sort of

Metal Fashion accessory Font Nickel Aluminium


I wanted a set of small scrapers on the cheap, so I made a set out of a dollar store saw blade. The quality probably isn't like the ones made from real tool steel, but they do work. I've adjusted the shape of these since making them to reach certain areas of instruments.

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Hardwood Musical instrument accessory


Wood Office ruler Wood stain Rectangle Plank
 

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#98 ·
Scraper, well sort of

Metal Fashion accessory Font Nickel Aluminium


I wanted a set of small scrapers on the cheap, so I made a set out of a dollar store saw blade. The quality probably isn't like the ones made from real tool steel, but they do work. I've adjusted the shape of these since making them to reach certain areas of instruments.

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Hardwood Musical instrument accessory


Wood Office ruler Wood stain Rectangle Plank
Smart, making tools needed for a specific task is what the masters do, or did many years ago. But, they didn't have dollar stores, and as luck woukd have it, we do.
 

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#102 ·
Brass F-hole cleat clamps

Triangle Wood Tool Office supplies Rectangle


Who doesn't love clamps? I made these 5 light duty clamps so that I wouldn't have to buy them. You can get the comercial variety for $16-$20 each plus shipping. Mine came in at about $5 each.

I made them from 5/32" brass rod, 10-24 threaded rod, nuts, a 6mm t coupling for air lines, and some JB Weld to put it all together.

Brown Wood Flooring Wood stain Plank


Rectangle Wood Eyewear Office supplies Varnish


The cleats involved are very very small, designed to simply bridge a crack which has already been glued together in order to add some strength to the mend. The top picture below is mine, showing two of my clamps posing on a repaired violin.

White Violin family Orange Wood Music


The rest of these photos are not mine. I borrowed them from the internet for educational purposes. They show cleats on the underside of an opened violin and cleats on the end of two clamps.

Brown Wood Wood stain Natural material Varnish


Musical instrument Violin family String instrument String instrument Guitar accessory


The cleat is glued to the end of the clamp with a dot of glue. It will easily break off after application to the wood of the violin. Again, these are lightweight clamps, they only need to hold the cleat to the wood while the glue dries, not muscle anything together.

These are sold in throat sets of 1, 2, 3, and 4 inches. I went a step further and made one of 5 inches. Not available in stores!
 

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#103 ·
Brass F-hole cleat clamps

Triangle Wood Tool Office supplies Rectangle


Who doesn't love clamps? I made these 5 light duty clamps so that I wouldn't have to buy them. You can get the comercial variety for $16-$20 each plus shipping. Mine came in at about $5 each.

I made them from 5/32" brass rod, 10-24 threaded rod, nuts, a 6mm t coupling for air lines, and some JB Weld to put it all together.

Brown Wood Flooring Wood stain Plank


Rectangle Wood Eyewear Office supplies Varnish


The cleats involved are very very small, designed to simply bridge a crack which has already been glued together in order to add some strength to the mend. The top picture below is mine, showing two of my clamps posing on a repaired violin.

White Violin family Orange Wood Music


The rest of these photos are not mine. I borrowed them from the internet for educational purposes. They show cleats on the underside of an opened violin and cleats on the end of two clamps.

Brown Wood Wood stain Natural material Varnish


Musical instrument Violin family String instrument String instrument Guitar accessory


The cleat is glued to the end of the clamp with a dot of glue. It will easily break off after application to the wood of the violin. Again, these are lightweight clamps, they only need to hold the cleat to the wood while the glue dries, not muscle anything together.

These are sold in throat sets of 1, 2, 3, and 4 inches. I went a step further and made one of 5 inches. Not available in stores!
Definitely a specialty clamp, thank you for showing their usage, since most of us would never have been able to
figure it out. Thank you for sharing.
 

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#106 ·
Brass violin crack clamps

Musical instrument Violin Violin family String instrument Fiddle


This is my violin posing with a set of violin crack clamps that I made with brass rod and plastic cut from a 1/2 inch thick cutting board. These function like flexible, light-duty bar clamps. I'll meed to make another, smaller set since many of the instruments I repair are fractional sizes. Oh, no! Not more clamps!

Musical instrument String instrument String instrument accessory Musical instrument accessory Folk instrument
 

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#107 ·
Brass violin crack clamps

Musical instrument Violin Violin family String instrument Fiddle


This is my violin posing with a set of violin crack clamps that I made with brass rod and plastic cut from a 1/2 inch thick cutting board. These function like flexible, light-duty bar clamps. I'll meed to make another, smaller set since many of the instruments I repair are fractional sizes. Oh, no! Not more clamps!

Musical instrument String instrument String instrument accessory Musical instrument accessory Folk instrument
Cool!!! Always love a clamp idea, never know when you'll need something just that little bit different to get the job done!
 

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