Jim Bress

Stunning!

I also add my linings prior to flattening the rib heights. It makes everything a bit more stable, I guess. It's the only way I've ever done it.

I agree, the purfling should be the proper thickness (unsqueezed) to fit in the purfling channel. Squeezing the purfling a bit helps the purfling go into the channel with the hot hide glue easier and less forced. It works for me, as your methods clearly work well for you.

The first part (as I was taught to make this varnish) is your varnish, and it's essentially clear. I melt the rosin, then add the linseed oil at 200 C for 2 hours using the proportions you show. Your first batch is the color that you add to the clear varnish. About 50% volume as the clear varnish. Then proceed with the mastic and adjust viscosity as you incorporate the mastic by adding more linseed oil as needed.

For added stability of the neck, I set a pin (maple dowel from a cut off of the neck blank) into the heel, and inlay a carbon fiber rod along the neck.

Copied from an old thread. These things are great and the roller distance is adjustable.

More fiddle progress…

I use a pasta roller to thin the purfling for easier insertion. It swells back up when glue is applied. Also the pasta roller puts a moderate curve in the purfling.

I start wood treatment and varnish as soon as the build is done. Stringing up just gives more opportunity for the wood to get dirty.

Thanks David!

Thanks everyone. After much deliberation I followed @crazy jane recommendation and bought a Franz electric metronome off eBay.

Thanks everyone for your input. I’m containing my excitement until I talk to my teacher (it’s fun to feel like a kid at 60 years old). I definitely have some Luddite tendencies so mechanical metronomes appeal to me. As does the plug in Franz. Never discount a survivor. I’m much better at shaping wood than sound. I’m looking forward to this journey. Cheers, Jim

Hi Folks, I finally finished my cello build and like it. Yay me! And I started taking cello lessons (double yay!). I need a couple of recommendations and my google-fu doesn't seem to be helping me, so I need help from the hive mind. First, I need a metronome. I'd rather have some stand alone metronome than a phone app, and I would probably prefer a click sound over a digital beep. Next, I need a booster seat of some kind. I like the building where my lessons are. The lessons are in class room type rooms. The acoustics are good, but there are only little school kid chairs and I'm 6 feet tall. Thanks, Jim

Thank you both. It’s really opened up in the last week of “playing”. Here’s a pic (with flash on) during a practice break. I also just finished the purfling on the next violin.

I have the same experience as Jesse with Tasai chisels. One thing I found is that the edge gets chippy when sharpened at 25 degrees, but fine above that.