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Plastic pegs


geoff1954

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I've come across violins with plastic pegs several times, and automatically replaced them with wooden pegs. However, if the pegs fit correctly then should I be doing this? My recent arrival has plastic pegs which look like deep black ebony, and fit perfectly. Why change them? The shafts won't warp (as they do with cheap wooden pegs) and it doesn't look as if there will be wear to the peg shaft or to the pegbox wall. 

(I suspect I have disturbed a hornet's nest here.)

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Interesting question. While I understand that some plastic pegs were made at some time, I haven't run across any personally. I would say leave them if they fit the quality level of the violin.

With the advanced materials available today, and the increasing scarcity of good ebony, it seems like someone should have come up with a good synthetic peg (other than the geared pegs). They should be a strong, stable, and machinable material. Let's hear your thoughts.

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I DO like the idea of finding some modern materials for making pegs, but I would suspect that the subject plastic (cheap) pegs might have problems.  Most plastics creep under load, so they could bend out of shape.  Friction characteristics might be good or bad... I've never come across plastic pegs to know.

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5 hours ago, Don Noon said:

I DO like the idea of finding some modern materials for making pegs, but I would suspect that the subject plastic (cheap) pegs might have problems.  Most plastics creep under load, so they could bend out of shape.  Friction characteristics might be good or bad... I've never come across plastic pegs to know.

Molding in an aluminum shaft down the center of the plastic peg would prevent creep.  And while you were at it you could add some gears too.

 

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10 hours ago, FiddleDoug said:

Interesting question. While I understand that some plastic pegs were made at some time, I haven't run across any personally. I would say leave them if they fit the quality level of the violin.

With the advanced materials available today, and the increasing scarcity of good ebony, it seems like someone should have come up with a good synthetic peg (other than the geared pegs). They should be a strong, stable, and machinable material. Let's hear your thoughts.

Wittner has for some time offered synthetic friction pegs, but the catch is they want you to buy the shapers made for it.

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Just now, Michael_Molnar said:

Fine. It is a higher technological material. However, I hate working with it.

I'm with Mike, working CF blows. Doesn't carve nicely, doesn't plane nicely, and working it at all is a hazard. 

Kile Hill offers beautifully milled nut and saddle blanks in Corian. I won't use anything else these days. It also sucks to work with blades, but it works fine with iwasaki and standard files, as well as on a disk or belt sander with a miter jig. He'll make them in ivory tone Corian too, for those wanting the look. The ebony tone blends perfectly with the real deal, it's jet black and has the correct luster.

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