DrTodd Posted October 17, 2022 Report Share Posted October 17, 2022 For the baroque cello I'm making, I'm planning on rosewood pegs and endpin and a red-brown varnish on the instrument. I'm making the tailpiece for the instrument out of maple (see the attached picture) and I'm wondering how I should finish the tailpiece. It has an interesting two-tone wood pattern on it that I don't want to hide. This is roughly based on a tailpiece Bruce Carlson described in 2015 on maestronet from a Stradivari exhibition and I think there he said that tailpiece was varnished...as in the same kind (but maybe not color) as on the instrument? In any case, I don't think I want a particularly shiny finish nor one that exactly matches the instrument color. So, other suggestions from the centuries of wisdom from maestronet? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban Luthier Posted October 17, 2022 Report Share Posted October 17, 2022 for the last tailpiece I made i finished it with Tried and True "Varnish Oil" basically linseed oil fortified with some resin. Rub on and burnish off. Gives a nice low sheen look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacksonMaberry Posted October 18, 2022 Report Share Posted October 18, 2022 Yeah that tried and true is a good option. There's a photo in my bench thread of a maple fingerboard you might be interested in looking at. I finished it with several applications of linseed oil that I heat bodied, mixed into a paste with marienglas. I think that an oil or very lightly resined varnish is good for fittings. If you decide to varnish it with ordinary varnish, maybe leave out the pigment since you want a complimentary color. As for the gloss, you can change the finish of an oil varnish based on how you polish it, so it's up to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Minwax makes two oil finishes you could use. Antique Oil, and Poly (something). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deo Lawson Posted October 22, 2022 Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 Yum, maple fittings! I use an oil first, then burnish, and add a bit of shellac. To keep the sheen under control I rub the shellac down with the wool too, if it came out too glossy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTodd Posted October 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2022 Hi Deo. Yes, that was my plan. I made a maple endpin today as well which will get the same treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTodd Posted October 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 The finished tailpiece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacksonMaberry Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 Looks nice! Holes look too small for your tailgut and strings, but that might just be a perspective issue on my part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTodd Posted November 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2022 7 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said: Looks nice! Holes look too small for your tailgut and strings, but that might just be a perspective issue on my part. They fit. Tailcord will be kevlar so perhaps a bit thinner than gut tailcord. I measured and drilled just big enough for all of them once I got the strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacksonMaberry Posted November 1, 2022 Report Share Posted November 1, 2022 Perfect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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