JacksonMaberry

To my knowledge, the only publicly available resources are the old Strad poster (would be nice if they’d do a new one with CT, but the Ashmolean would have to play ball, which they don’t typically like to with the Hill Collection), the John Pringle drawings (great drawings, considering the museum made him make them from images and measurements they provided- they refused him access), and whatever photos and measurements you can find in books. that said, let me ask with all sincerity: why do you want to make a copy of a violin that nobody plays and very few people know how it sounds? It is very beautiful, but while close it is not in original condition, is dogged by controversy (annoyingly), etc. so many great instruments to study for emulation! The Messiah is at this point in my view better thought of as a remarkable curio rather than an instrument, since it has never been allowed to serve (as all instruments are intended) as one

Always wondered what that wood was like! We have many of them in Hawaii. Several Australian species were introduced over the last two centuries. Quite dense I expect? It's called "ironwood" in Hawaii

I much prefer corradi, especially their "precision" and "precision" lines. They are machine (CNC) stitched, and therefore much more affordable than Liogier or Pechar, and their unique tooth pattern leaves a very fine finish while still being sufficiently aggressive. They do not behave anything like cheap machine stitched rasps. I sold my pechars once I got my corradis.

Wow, the price on that heat blanket is very ... Nice.

Nobody can safely generalize about all oil varnish, because there is so much variation. Some dry faster, some slower, some never dry. You have to use your best judgement. Err on the side of caution.

The guitar thing is neat! Ever play one with it installed? I'm curious. Can't visualize the violin idea, link to the thread?

Never heard of him. Also, this topic doesn't really fit this forum.

I also prefer to use (mostly) scrapers, regardless of thickness, ground at a 90° angle like a card scraper - as opposed to ground like a typical cutting tool with a single or double bevel. I do this for two reasons: first because it gives me twice as much cutting burr, and second because I cut myself badly with my first 45° beveled scraper in the burnishing process and that put me off of it. My thinnest scraper is just a kidney shaped flexible pottery scraper. They're a couple bucks and I use them right out of the package. I'm always surprised at both how well they cut and by how fine a surface they leave as a last scraping stage before burnishing with equisetum.

I don't really understand all the dismissiveness. Burnishers are an important too. If, by discussing it civilly, we can be a help to others, then it's time well spent. Perhaps it's not the most exciting topic for me, but I'm glad to have it rather than another 20 page slap fight about grounds, or sound hole placement, where more than half the poster have no idea what they're talking about despite arguing with ferocious certainty.

Good for him! Would be nice if all archetiers were so fortunate, to ensure healthy competition.

Same as it ever was, at least in my time here. It's always a matter of winnowing the chaff for the kernels.

Presumably, indeed.

Remember that if the angle doesn't work out how you wanted, you can fudge it a bit with saddle height + tailcord thickness

The only reason I asked for clarification is that the word "overhang" is used on English specifically to refer to the edge of the plates that hangs over the ribs.

You're an exception, Don. You're a retired engineer who actually sort of does know everything.