F-hole fails?

[Rue]

So - you go though all this work to make a top --- and then carefully start to drill very precise holes into it --- and then - UH-OH!

How much of a mistake can be repaired and when do you have to scrap the top?

[chungviolins]

You can repair almost any mistakes.(pointed inserts )

Sounds like this is not a hypothetical question.

Pics will help, but not sure you want to post.

[Stavanger]

The reason they are called F-holes, is because the F-words from the frustrated maker is still resonating throughout the instrument....

 

[Rue]

1 hour ago, chungviolins said:

You can repair almost any mistakes.(pointed inserts )

Sounds like this is not a hypothetical question.

Pics will help, but not sure you want to post.

Totally hypothetical - for me.

Assume it's happened to others though.

[JacksonMaberry]

It's amazing what you can do to correct mistakes in woodworking. Really though, the f-hole drilling/sawing/carving is a much more low-stress part of the job than you imagine. Grounding and varnishing are the high stress tasks, for me at least. 

[Rue]

I have never varnished a violin, but I would enjoy that.

However, just the thought of making holes in things is stressful.  I suppose it all depends on how much practice you've had at the various skill sets required.

But I do know...that no matter how careful one is - oopsies happen, and was just wondering how big an oopsie can be before you hit the point of no return.

[gowan]

Considering that violins that have been run over by a car can be restored/repaired, we can take chungviolins's comment seriously.  However, really catastrophic damage could mean replacing rather than repairing, such as a violin that had been in a fire and, say, has the back badly burned.  In that case it would be necessary to make a new back.  I guess that sort of things results in the composite instruments we see sold at auctions.  I've seen restored damaged edges, and instruments that have had "wings" added to the belly.

[Michael Jennings]

I have an old [very early 19th century?] fiddle of undetermined European origin [French?/German?].....

Both ff holes have replaced wood [pointed inserts as Chung eludes to] inside on both and the entire outside wing on the treble.

One section of edge replaced on the treble upper bout.

Soundpost patches belly and back.........

The repairs are excellently done and not obvious until you look closely.

Always been curious as to the history of the violin and it's "medical files"..... but someone apparently thought it was worth saving and employed a skilled surgeon. 

 

 

[Jim Bress]

2 hours ago, Michael Jennings said:

I have an old [very early 19th century?] fiddle of undetermined European origin [French?/German?].....

Both ff holes have replaced wood [pointed inserts as Chung eludes to] inside on both and the entire outside wing on the treble.

One section of edge replaced on the treble upper bout.

Soundpost patches belly and back.........

The repairs are excellently done and not obvious until you look closely.

Always been curious as to the history of the violin and it's "medical files"..... but someone apparently thought it was worth saving and employed a skilled surgeon. 

 

 

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[Michael Jennings]

^^^^^^ Did you copywrite the idea Jim? Or at least lock in the domain names?

For clarity... I was just relating to what others posted that "OOOPPPSSes" and the line where they result in firewood only really can depend only on the willingness and skills of the owner and luthier......

I'm quite happy not knowing the answers to MANY things..... and revel in my cosmic insignificance.

[Jim Bress]

It's all yours.    I get a lot of good ideas from conversations on here concerning theft and individual instrument identification apps. that I ask my son if he'd want to build an app for.  He'll think about for a minute or so figuring out how to make it work, then he tosses it aside saying it's not what he's into (sigh).  You can lead a dog to a tree but you can't....well you know.  

-Jim

[Ron1]

I've posted this before, but here are some cello f-holes with extensive "fixes".  Can be seen at this angle/lighting, but otherwise quite unoticeable.

 

[Pate Bliss]

There was a busy local repairman who I let make a bridge for a fiddle once.  Later I was over there looking at bows or something and he said he was making his first violin and showed me the top for it. The f-holes were the most ungodly looking thing I ever saw, including on ogrish.com.  Could not unsee and never went back for any reason.  I'd call that an f-hole fail.