Paul Posted January 29, 1999 Report Posted January 29, 1999 I have a unit which, due to prior neck repairs, requires replacing the upper block. I have the block out of the unit and the bouts cleaned up. Now I need to make the block. The original one appears to have been make from popular. I have a fairly complete contour on one side . Anyone have any suggestions as to how I should approach this repair. Thanks, Paul
Ben Posted January 29, 1999 Report Posted January 29, 1999 Hi. I'm not a cello maker, or even a cellist. I am an amature violin maker. If you've got a good contour on one side and not the other, copy the good side on to both sides of the new block. Copy the original. I hope this helped, Ben
Oded Kishony Posted January 29, 1999 Report Posted January 29, 1999 : I have a unit which, due to prior neck repairs, requires replacing the upper block. I have the block out of the unit and the bouts cleaned up. Now I need to make the block. The original one appears to have been make from popular. I have a fairly complete contour on one side . : Anyone have any suggestions as to how I should approach this repair. : Thanks, : Paul Remove the top. Trace the purfling of the top upper bout, that should give you an accurate outside curve for the block. (Upper blocks can be made from spruce or willow. I haven't seen a polar block but it might be ok) Measure the hight of the old block and cut the new one about 5-8 mm taller. Sandwich the new block between top and back with an appropriate clamp jiggering it around so when you hold the ribs in place or clamp them you get an even overhang. Observe that the areas that will contact the top/back will have to be trimmed (with a sharp block plane or chisel) so that they will come into full contact with the glue surface of the top/back.(Look through the endpin/button hole, a dental mirror helps) Keep trimming and dry clamping everything in place until it all fits ie a good even overhang at the top and the back-the top and back have undoubtably shrunk at different rates so don't assume you can simply cut things square and it will all fit. This is one of the most challenging, time consuming, tricky jobs you can do. I've seen grown repair people brought to tears of frustration doing this "little" repair. Good Luck Oded Kishony
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