Dimitri Musafia Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 Hello varnish specialists! A violinist wants to order one of my cases, and wishes that the case be lined in a polyester velour of his liking. He has a Strad and a Vuillaume, and personally I'm worried about the reaction that the material may have with the varnish in hot weather. Can anyone provide me with personal experiences? Horror stories? Or is polyester OK? Many thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiddleDoug Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 I don't have any specific experience with different materials for linings. What material do you currently use? If a silk bag were used all of the time, there shouldn't be a problem, but how do you guarantee that they would do that? In any case, a signed, witnessed, release from all liability might be in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted February 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 29 minutes ago, FiddleDoug said: What material do you currently use? If a silk bag were used all of the time, there shouldn't be a problem, but how do you guarantee that they would do that? In any case, a signed, witnessed, release from all liability might be in order. I try to use only natural materials such as cotton, silk, and viscose (which is a semi-synthetic, a.k.a. rayon). Anything else has been tested extensively before use, with a variety of varnishes and temperature/humidity conditions. The problem here is using a material which to us is completely new and here I have some time constraints. A silk bag however would be an interesting solution. Didn't think of that, because I tend to dislike them, but it might be the lesser of the two evils. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted February 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 Maybe more to my point, is can polyester react with an alcohol-based varnish, since alcohol is used to manufacture it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacklinks Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 4 hours ago, Dimitri Musafia said: Hello varnish specialists! A violinist wants to order one of my cases, and wishes that the case be lined in a polyester velour of his liking. He has a Strad and a Vuillaume, and personally I'm worried about the reaction that the material may have with the varnish in hot weather. Can anyone provide me with personal experiences? Horror stories? Or is polyester OK? Many thanks in advance! Not that it’s any of our business, but why would someone with valuable instruments want to have what is usually associated with less expensive cases be used in a very expensive case? Seems like an unnecessary risk for the buyer to select a material other that what has already been successfully used with valuable instruments. But I suppose they could be providing the velour material to you and the material itself may have some sentimental or other intangible value to the buyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeH Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 Polyester is a very stable and inert material, and I cannot see any reason that it would react chemically with a dry violin varnish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Allen Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 18 minutes ago, GeorgeH said: Polyester is a very stable and inert material, and I cannot see any reason that it would react chemically with a dry violin varnish. I've never had and problems with polyester on hot or humid days sticking to either my spirit varnished or oil varnished viola. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 What about silk velvet? Close-ish to a poly velour and might go better in a high end case, if you're after "real"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvin Goldsmith Posted February 18, 2019 Report Share Posted February 18, 2019 Dear Dimitri, You are a great master of your trade and if I was commissioning a case from you ( as I would wish one day!) I would be asking your advice and not ever dictating materials. You can furnish the most exquisite natural cloths but your client asks for some unproven cheap synthetic flammable polyester that will probably degrade much faster than the natural fibers you know and trust. In your position I would simply reject the commission. The customer is not showing you the respect you deserve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted February 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 Thank you, everyone. And I especially appreciate Melvin's comment because he hits the proverbial nail on the head. After 36 years in the field I may have learned a thing or two. This isn't the first time I find myself in a quandary like this. Some time ago, an A-list soloist wanted to order one of my cases, but insisted that I substitute the time-proven latch that I use with the pinch-type GEWA-style lock by Sudhaus in Germany. Aside from the fact that I dislike that model for a number of reasons, principally because the case may look closed when it's not, and when you pick up your case your Strad tumbles out, but Sudhaus no longer makes it, and only Chinese copies are on the market. So I refused to change the lock - I didn't want any responsibility towards this guy's Strad if the lock broke - and lost the sale. Just curious: how do you violin makers deal with unreasonable requests? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted February 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 16 hours ago, jacklinks said: Not that it’s any of our business, but why would someone with valuable instruments want to have what is usually associated with less expensive cases be used in a very expensive case? He likes the appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted February 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 12 hours ago, Rue said: What about silk velvet? Close-ish to a poly velour and might go better in a high end case, if you're after "real"... I agree entirely, and in fact purchased a beautiful velvet in the exact color desired, a mix of cotton and viscose to give it a particular sheen. Nope, not approved by the client. (I'll use the material for another case, don't worry). Silk velvet tends to have a dull appearance, while this client wants something lustrous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 3 hours ago, Dimitri Musafia said: Just curious: how do you violin makers deal with unreasonable requests? I kick 'em to the curb (suggest they go elsewhere). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Cossmann Cooke Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 Assessing just the relative risks to your business, declining the business is the lowest risk course of action. Even if they bad mouth you to other players for not being willing to accede to their request, your existing reputation will more than withstand that. The highest risk is that you do what they ask and something bad happens to their instrument -- heaven forbid. In that event, their bad-mouthing can begin to erode your reputation (though I would say it would take several such incidents to have that kind of effect in your case). And, by the way, you would never asked them to play Paganini left-handed behind their back (assuming they are right-handed). So why should they ask you to change your formula for success? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzupe Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 It's hard to explain to people they have no taste. Just find a friend who works at a museum to lie for you "our findings show that it may be dangerous" you wouldn't want to jeopardize the integrity of the instrument over some polyester, would you?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 11 hours ago, Dimitri Musafia said: I agree entirely, and in fact purchased a beautiful velvet in the exact color desired, a mix of cotton and viscose to give it a particular sheen. Nope, not approved by the client. (I'll use the material for another case, don't worry). Silk velvet tends to have a dull appearance, while this client wants something lustrous. Well - if they insist, I'd make them sign an addendum to their bill of sales, saying that you are not responsible for any damage the lining may cause ANY instrument placed on the lining, since you are not familiar with the chemistry of the lining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowan Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I understand the appearance of luster of the polyester but that material seems "hard" to me and I would think it would be more abrasive to the varnish than natural textiles. Imagine millions of tiny plastic scrapers contacting the finish of your instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacklinks Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 42 minutes ago, Rue said: Well - if they insist, I'd make them sign an addendum to their bill of sales, saying that you are not responsible for any damage the lining may cause ANY instrument placed on the lining, since you are not familiar with the chemistry of the lining. Speaking of thoughts along this line, how often do instrument owners attempt to have case manufacturers held responsible for instrument damage from falls, bumps, temperature, humidity or any other reason they can come up with? Not asking about Musafia necessarily, but is this a common occurrence in the industry? I would guess that owners try to blame the higher cost manufacturers more that the cheap ones though because the case owner may assume that high $$$ automatically equals high protection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Cossmann Cooke Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 13 minutes ago, gowan said: I understand the appearance of luster of the polyester but that material seems "hard" to me and I would think it would be more abrasive to the varnish than natural textiles. Imagine millions of tiny plastic scrapers contacting the finish of your instrument. "Don't you think the luster of the polyester just distracts from your stunningly beautiful instrument which ought to be the center of attention?" Then again, if they have their heart set on poly, appealing to their vanity may not work either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Brown Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I have had rather slick fabrics "print" on the ribs of a violin. It's hard to predict. I think the sort of plush that you use is about the best stuff. Some instruments have soft varnish that may have problems no matter what. As to a chemical reaction I haven't a clue. I suppose it's possible but it might be in the realm of an organic chemist. If I was the person involved I would go with your ideas and maybe use their fabric just for accent and not in contact with the fiddle. DLB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimRobinson Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 In relation to question about polyester, I'd ask a conservator in a major museum that houses such instruments - the Ashmolean springs to mind. This comes from the V&A website and is good advice for storage of objects generally: Mitigation Ideally, museum storage and display environments should be free of all reactants that can interact with objects. This ideal is not (usually) a realistic expectation: many artefacts may be sources of corrosive agents that will interact with other objects. Anyway, increasing access to objects inevitably increases the rate of their degradation, if only by exposing them to radiation necessary for them to be seen and keeping them in climates that are appropriate for visitors. Approaches to ensure that unacceptable rates of chemical interactions are not encountered in the storage and display of artefacts include: Use only inert materials in the construction of containers (avoid the problem) Use protective films to contain any sources of reactant species – by sealing materials that are known to be a source of corrosive agents or to provide a protective film around the artefacts themselves (keep the problem out) Use sacrificial materials preferentially to react with the corrosive species. See: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/journals/conservation-journal/issue-44/materials-and-their-interaction-with-museum-objects/ Tim (An archivist for 40 years) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted February 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 For those wondering, if I decide I don't want to take up a project, I have two solutions: if it's a question of materials or components, I simply say that I am unable to source what they are looking for; if it's a question of design, I will recommend them to a colleague. Never any hard feelings. Regarding the issue of product liability, we put enough clauses into our warranty to cover our necessities, but so far I have never heard of any issues of a case manufacturer being asked to take responsibility for instrument breakage. And that despite the millions of truly dangerous cases out there, that are used even to carry Strads (and I mean it). It would be like driving your BMW into a tree, becoming injured, and then suing the folks in Munich. Might as well sue the tree. Update: I found a crushed velvet made with 80% viscose and 20% silk, which the client likes. Whew... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoGo Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 2 hours ago, Dimitri Musafia said: It would be like driving your BMW into a tree, becoming injured, and then suing the folks in Munich. Might as well sue the tree. I bet something like that already happened somewhere in the US. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bress Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 5 hours ago, Dimitri Musafia said: For those wondering, if I decide I don't want to take up a project, I have two solutions: if it's a question of materials or components, I simply say that I am unable to source what they are looking for; if it's a question of design, I will recommend them to a colleague. Never any hard feelings. Regarding the issue of product liability, we put enough clauses into our warranty to cover our necessities, but so far I have never heard of any issues of a case manufacturer being asked to take responsibility for instrument breakage. And that despite the millions of truly dangerous cases out there, that are used even to carry Strads (and I mean it). It would be like driving your BMW into a tree, becoming injured, and then suing the folks in Munich. Might as well sue the tree. Update: I found a crushed velvet made with 80% viscose and 20% silk, which the client likes. Whew... Congratulations on coming to a solution. I had to look up viscose. Interesting product that's made from wood pulp. I know you do a lot of testing. Have you tested the water vapor absorbance of different materials? I remember the days when I worked in the polar regions where the saying was "cotton kills" because it holds water and if you sweat with cotton against your skin it will freeze. Instead, we always wore polyester or polypropylene that has a more hydrophobic nature. I am thinking the ability to absorb water vapor can act as a buffer to changes in RH. Just a thought model. I don't if it would actually work that way or if the difference would be meaningful. Cheers, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted February 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Jim Bress said: Have you tested the water vapor absorbance of different materials? I remember the days when I worked in the polar regions where the saying was "cotton kills" because it holds water and if you sweat with cotton against your skin it will freeze. Absolutely, and you are right. Cotton velvet (think later Hill cases, or Gordge cases) provide the most stable microclimate within the case due to the hygroscopic properties of cotton. Fortunately violins don't sweat, only violinists :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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