Building a Box Cello #7: Pegs and waiting for finish
I reamed the pegbox for the tuning pegs. And removed the fingerboard and nut and took it home for the finish. Up next is the project post whict is right here (link)
Building a Box Cello #6: Fingerboard and nut
I did not make this fingerboard, though I have made a cello fingerboard in the past. This one looks to be mahogany. I scraped the black paint off of it and treated it with boiled linseed oil. It looks great. I glued it to the neck for final fitting. Then i glued a cherry nut blank onto the end and roughed out the nut. These both get removed for final finishing if the instrument.
Building a Box Cello #5: Neck and scroll
I ordered a cello neck from a seller in China. After two and a half months it still hadn’t arrived, so I broke down and carved one myself. I will say that white oak is a splintery wood to carve.
Building a Box Cello #4: Saddle
Cutting the saddle from a piece of cherry. The saddle supports the tailpiece ligature. Cutting the top to install the saddle.
Building a Box Cello #3: Holes and pin
Cutting the F or sound holes. Fitting the end pin.
Building a Box Cello #2: End blocks and bass bar
Installing the end blocks to support the end pin and the neck. Installing the bass bar. I made the clamps some time ago. It was gratifying to actually use them. Planing away some of the bass bar to lighten it and make it look nice.
Building a Box Cello #1: Building the box
I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here’s the process of the build. Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts. Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak. Gluing the back onto the box.
Adventures in Lutherie #14: Chipped cello edge
Part of my job as an or hestral repair tech is to try and repair damage to the rental instruments. A chip like the one shown above is sort of dangerous since it presents a rough edge. This is repair though, not full museum restoration. In this case I took a piece of similar wood and cut it to fit in the gap, oversize. I carve the patch to match the level and shape of the missing piece as best that I can.Then I try my best to blend it in with the surrounding area. Sometimes I...
Shopmade Luthier Tools #29: Brass bridge templates and bevel gauge
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 viol...
Shopmade Luthier Tools #28: 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 cla...
