J.DiLisio's Bench

[J.DiLisio]

A Carlo Bergonzi scroll in the works..

It’s a challenge to keep the long handlebars’ in alignment. I’m definitely gaining more of an appreciation of his skill through the process. 

As a side note, I’ve run into a few problems in using the Bergonzi book as a resource. The scroll photos are not only larger than 1:1 scale but the different views are out of scale from one another. I spent a bit of time in Illustrator re-scaling the views so that I could work from them.

In addition, the photographs of the two forms need to be stretched lengthwise as well as enlarged to achieve the correct dimensions.

It really is a lovely book and invaluable resource. It just seems like more attention could have been paid to accuracy.

 

[J.DiLisio]

[J.DiLisio]

The Bergonzi scroll is turning out a little more Strad looking than expected. I think I made the second turn a bit wide. 

I’ll leave it for now and move on.

[J.DiLisio]

I managed to get enough pigment in one layer of varnish for the maple. The spruce required an extra coat. This is the thinnest I’ve been able to get my varnish application so far. A bit more antiquing and then a thin un-pigmented coat for polishing and then we’ll be ready for setup!

[FoxMitchell]

It's looking great!  

[J.DiLisio]

Thanks Fox!  Here are some daylight photos that show more of the madder red.

I’ve stopped worrying about taping off the fingerboard during the varnishing process. I’ve found that it cleans up easily with alcohol and allows for a less fussy application.

[J.DiLisio]

Here we are after antiquing and a final thin coat of polished varnish (I’m contemplating whether this is necessary.)  I started getting the hang of softening the color coat with alcohol and removing areas with my fingernail. I didn’t go too overboard but I may try to get more of an aged pattern on the back of the next one.  

 

[J.DiLisio]

Here are a couple of new additions to the shop.. a hand-cranked precision disc sander for quick squaring off and a set of bassbar clamps that I finally got around to making.

[J.DiLisio]

Here is the Bergonzi model coming together. The neck root still needs shaping but it’s starting to feel like a real instrument. 

I tried the Bergonzi style purfling joints on this one. It’s definitely faster than a mitre but I’m not sold on the look.

My plan is to string it up in the white and attempt some thicknessing adjustments from the outside.  I’m curious to see how noticeable the effects are.

[FoxMitchell]

Looking good! Your cat is there taking all the credit for it!   

[J.DiLisio]

Here are a couple iphone recordings of the Bergonzi model in the white. 
After a couple days of soundpost adjusting and a week of playing in I started trying some scraping from the outside. 
I was concentrating around the edges mostly and the c-bout area.  There was a noticeable increase in volume but the tone stayed pretty consistent. 
There's definitely a soft/woody character to the sound that I'm assuming will recede once the wood is varnished and hardened. 
Overall I'm pretty happy with the results. 

Bergonzi_White_Zorn.m4a

Bergonzi_White_Scale.m4a

[J.DiLisio]

The wings snapped off one of the cheap Indian boxwood pegs as I was fitting it so I’ve been tuning the A string with an adjustable wrench   

I’ve decided it’s time to seek out better quality fittings and possibly consider a less aggressive fitting process.

[J.DiLisio]

Here is my first successful peg! 

The shape is based off of the ornate Vuillaume/Hill pegs.  I’m using a copier on my lathe to get the proportions, then finishing by hand with some homemade tools.  The wood is African and hard as ebony but not endangered as far as I can tell.   The color finished darker than I expected but it’s actually pretty similar to the color of the Lady Blunt pegs so they’ll likely look good with a darker red varnish.

The daunting challenge now is to make a matching set.

[Urban Luthier]

wow that is really beautiful! I love the colour. I'd like to learn how to turn pegs one day

[Rue]

Very nice! 

[Janito]

6 hours ago, DoorMouse said:

Here is my first successful peg!

The shaft looks thin.  Have you tried it in a peg-shaper?

[Thomas Coleman]

9 hours ago, DoorMouse said:

Here is my first successful peg! 

The shape is based off of the ornate Vuillaume/Hill pegs.  I’m using a copier on my lathe to get the proportions, then finishing by hand with some homemade tools.  The wood is African and hard as ebony but not endangered as far as I can tell.   The color finished darker than I expected but it’s actually pretty similar to the color of the Lady Blunt pegs so they’ll likely look good with a darker red varnish.

The daunting challenge now is to make a matching set.

Awesome!  Is the follower aftermarket?  Please post of photo of the lathe and copier? 

[J.DiLisio]

I wouldn’t recommend the setup I have. The lathe is oversized/overpowered for this application and the copier is made for a smaller lathe. I’ve been looking into a small machinists lathe just for pegs.

The initial shaft size at the collar is 8.5mm. I’ve been shaping pegs to about 8mm for fitting. 

Here’s yesterday’s haul. I’m finding that there’s a pretty wide variety of coloring with the wood I’m using. 

It would be nice to try some of that Mountain Mahogany Eric Myers raves about but I haven’t been able to source large enough blanks.

[J.DiLisio]

One thing that’s nice about the copier setup is that I can just switch the motor direction when I want to use hand tools on the rest.

[Rue]

If I was having a custom set made, and there were slight variations in colour, I wouldn't mind. Adds to the "uniqueness"...

I like your oak table top too. What style table is it?

[FoxMitchell]

Nice pegs! That's a nice setup you have there also!  

[J.DiLisio]

Thanks, I don’t know too much about the table other than it coming from my partner’s family.  It has a wax finish and the legs look nice..

[J.DiLisio]

Here is the Bergonzi model in it's finished shape.   Violin #9 for me.
The sound turned out pretty close to how it was sounding in the white. 
I found that process of adjustments to be extremely helpful.
I ended up going with a boxwood tailpiece.  The one I made was too heavy and was having a dampening effect. 
I've been experimenting with afterlength a bit and I'm finding that different lengths necessitate repositioning the soundpost for even tone across the strings.
As always, if you see any glaring issues or areas of improvement please let me know.
Thanks

 

Edited February 8, 2019 by DoorMouse
Photo colors fixed.

[Rue]

Looks great!  

And you're right - the table has nice legs...

[Jim Bress]

I would not have noticed the Bergonzi purfling miters w/o you telling me about them.  They look like they belong, nice work.  I'm playing the tail cord dance now with the viola.  I'll bring it by when I'm home long enough to finish the setup.

-Jim