murray kuun

Some may be interested to hear my F1olin on her first ever outing with Kristel Birkholz. Here with Rory Gaddin on one of my guitars, Thin Lizzy

When I learned violin making 15-20 years ago, it was taboo using French Polish, what is the feeling nowadays? I am doing my first ever FP application on an archtop I am making. This is after about 5 coats.

I do have a cnc. It would be quite lightweight actually.

I still have to sort out some design issues but I'm hoping to do this electric soon.

Will you look at that, jolly nice.

I had been wanting to try to make a violin for a long time but did not think it was doable. After a visit to Michaelangelo's David and bumping into a luthier shop in Firenze, I decided to try. I used Harry Wake's book and got plenty of help here on Maestronet. I made a few dozen before moving to guitar making - the designer in me got bored. Anyway, I have come back with a new design just the other day. I'm now considering a cello of the same design as this....

Three of the four designs I have made over time. I think I like the new fiolin best (far right). I have yet the hear it played by a proper player (after lockdown) but I have high hopes. Just updated my www.murraykuun.com to include most of what I have made.

Sorry guys, I cannot work out how to reply to individuals on this forum. I do have a www.murraykuun.com but am working on it as we speak. You should be able to get in though. Someone asked for pics of the back and other archtops. This fiolin is pure acoustic and has no electronics (it could if a client wanted). I have plenty on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and https://www.flickr.com/photos/142674472@N03/

Nice looks like a super high end sports car! I'd love to see your archtops, do you have a website? Yes, www.murraykuun.com I am working on it as we speak but you should be able to get into it. Otherwise I have tons on Instagram, Pinterest and https://www.flickr.com/photos/142674472@N03/

Workbench pics of my new #fiolin. I switched from violin making to guitar making (mostly archtops) about 15 years ago but still like to try my hand at my first love. I have yet to hear this, I have to wait for our lockdown to end before I can go in search of a proper player.

The secret here is that you mix the colours into a bit of varnish? If not this method(artist oil pint), what system do you recommend - assuming the wood has been sealed?

I always understood that the wood itself is never dyed, hence the sealer of egg-white or gelatine? Or not?

My tests do show a bit less transparency, yes. What do you suggest?

Am doing some research before varnishing a violin I made 15 years ago. I did not like the colour and stripped it all those years ago. It has aged nicely and now I want to re-varnish it and found these Oldwood products on line. It is horrifically expensive to do all the steps they advise on their YouTube videos. I still have stock of Hammerl varnish and now want to colour the violin - the question is: can/should I use normal artists oil paint colours for rubbing on the colour (after clear ground coat)? Or perhaps mix the varnish with the oil colours and apply by brush? I do also still have the pigments I bought from Hammerl all those years ago. I found it quite difficult to get even applications of pre-coloured varnish in those days. Doing tests now, I can get nice even applications if I use pure artist colours (with my fingers) - then coating that with clear varnish.

Seems to be impossible for me to order oil varnish for delivery here in Africa (flammable). I can get spirit varnish in powder form from Hammerl but in "my day" only oil varnish was acceptable, has that changed at all with the current ban of the transportation of flammable goods - is spirit varnish acceptable? Or shall I resort to alternative methods like French polish perhaps?