Brian Timmons's Bench

[Brian in Texas]

I had some time off from work, so I spent an afternoon dry fitting purfling on the back plate. I'm sure my methods seem sloppy compared to the artistry I see from many here, but the goal of my channel is to document my journey accurately. And right now, I'm still at the fumbling stage, but aiming to improve. As always, any tips or constructive criticisms are welcome.

 

[Davide Sora]

From the impression I got from watching the video, the channel seems too narrow, or the purfling too big. In short, the insertion seems too forced; when you apply the glue, you won't be able to insert it easily, or you'll have problems with the black part lifting and remaining outside the channel. For dry fitting, the purfling should enter and exit the channel easily, with just the pressure of your fingers (almost no pressure at all). When you pull it out of the channel, it should come out easily without any resistance; otherwise, the risk of it breaking is high.
You shouldn't need a hammer to insert it dry, nor when you apply the glue. Tapping with the hammer serves mainly to better distribute the glue due to the vibrations it produces, rather than to push it all the way down into the channel. Finger pressure should suffice. At least, that's how I expect my purfling to behave when dry-fitted and during gluing. To make insertion easier, I round the bottom edges of the purfling strips with (fine) sandpaper; this makes a significant difference in the ease of insertion and prevents the edge of the black strips from getting caught on the sharp edge of the channel, causing them to lift during insertion, especially if forced.

Lastly, a forced-in purfling will cause a push on the sides of the channel due to the swelling induced by the glue, with a serious risk of causing cracks in the fragile parts (end grain), especially in spruce.

[ernym]

Solid advice Davide

[Davide Sora]

1 hour ago, ernym said:

Solid advice Davide

Thank you! 

I confess I had just written something very similar for one of my videos, so I just "recycled" it. It seemed fitting for the previous post.

@Brian in Texas If you look carefully at the end of the video, you can see that the purfling lifts slightly on its own after I remove the pressure of my finger.

 

[Brian in Texas]

Sure enough, despite Davide’s advice, I somehow managed to make too snug of a fit, causing blowout in a couple of spots.

(sigh) I guess some patchwork is in my future.

[Lisa Chamberlain]

17 hours ago, Brian in Texas said:

Sure enough, despite Davide’s advice, I somehow managed to make too snug of a fit, causing blowout in a couple of spots.

(sigh) I guess some patchwork is in my future.

I’m sorry that happened. So frustrating. Thank you for sharing the real side of learning.  I will remember the importance of finesse in purfling work even more because of this photo. 

[Jay Higgs]

On 12/14/2025 at 11:32 AM, Davide Sora said:

I round the bottom edges of the purfling strips with (fine) sandpaper; this makes a significant difference in the ease of insertion and prevents the edge of the black strips from getting caught on the sharp edge of the channel, causing them to lift during insertion, especially if forced.

Davide is a super craftsman, so you should heed his advice over mine any day.  I don't know if it is a bad idea or not, but I burnish my purfling gently, on the long runs (but not at the joints) before final gluing.  It expands back up with the glue, and I have not had any problems with this.  I HAVE caused end-grain blowouts like yours when being overaggressive with my purfling pick.  The fragments form a perfect joint, so for me Titebond glue has been a good solution.  

Thanks for sharing what works for you and what does not.  

Jay

[Brian in Texas]

I decided to try the Accu-Burr burnisher in an effort to get better results out of my scrapers. Here is my first impression and review. 

 

[Jay Higgs]

On 12/31/2025 at 8:46 AM, Brian in Texas said:

I decided to try the Accu-Burr burnisher in an effort to get better results out of my scrapers. Here is my first impression and review. 

Hi Brian:  I just came across your video.  Thanks for sharing your experience.  I have good luck with traditional scraper sharpening, and I am giving a demo of this to the San Antonio Luthiers this Sunday (25 Jan).  I will mention your review, but unfortunately I cannot get my hands on an Accu-Burr before my talk.  --Jay

[Will Turner]

@Brian in Texas,

I'm always excited to view your content.   Between your progress and the excellent advice from fellow Maestroneters, I have been learning so much for application in my own journey.   I also very much appreciate you @Davide Sora, the videos you provide are so valuable, I cannot tell you how much I value your complete series.

Much appreciated!

[Will Turner]

Currently doing a shop reset/organization (for my spouse ), once finished and when the weather improves (I need to get it insulated, I worry about the temperatures damaging the wood I have seasoning) I'll be back to making again.   A seasonal learning maker is my unofficial title.

Also a happy wife a happy life.   Been a blessing for me for the last 33 years, especially since she's excited that I'm enjoying learning this craft.

[Davide Sora]

11 minutes ago, Will Turner said:

Also a happy wife a happy life.   

So true!

[Brian in Texas]

I've been on hiatus from making the viola for the last month or so. Do any other beginners have a difficult time wrestling with impostor syndrome?

[Mike Atkins]

3 hours ago, Brian in Texas said:

I've been on hiatus from making the viola for the last month or so. Do any other beginners have a difficult time wrestling with impostor syndrome?

My bench thread is 25 pages long, spanning several years, without a completed violin...You're doing great!

[MikeC]

4 minutes ago, Mike Atkins said:

My bench thread is 25 pages long, spanning several years, without a completed violin...You're doing great!

Don't feel bad,  it took me 5 years for my first one and I'm 2 years into this second build already.   

[PawelP]

15 hours ago, Brian in Texas said:

I've been on hiatus from making the viola for the last month or so. Do any other beginners have a difficult time wrestling with impostor syndrome?

Definitely!

what helps me is working on more than one instrument at a time, so I have more tasks to choose from, and if for example i don't feel good to cut purfling channel, I have some wood to plane etc 

Also, tasks that I did recently are somehow easier to start again...

[Matthew_Graesch]

On 1/28/2026 at 2:12 PM, Brian in Texas said:

I've been on hiatus from making the viola for the last month or so. Do any other beginners have a difficult time wrestling with impostor syndrome?

EVERY SINGLE DAY.  The imposter syndrome has been the single biggest hurdle in my journey in violin making.  I often feel really bad because I know there are so many incredibly talented people who have dedicated their lives to the craft and attended a multi-year school or apprenticeship at great personal sacrifice.  I did none of that.....I am just a random guy who loves stringed instruments and building complicated things, so violin making is a perfect hobby for me....but whenever there is a chance to show something I have made or have someone play it, or display it in any way (like at VSA new makers exhibition), I have declined, because I truly don't want any of the professionals to feel like I am in any way trying to say that my work is anywhere near theirs, because it isn't, and won't ever be.  I just love woodworking and complex tasks, and I hope to make each one better than the last.  I am often really surprised that amateur makers are willing to sell instruments, because after 13 completed instruments, what I know more and more each day is that I just don't have the training at things like setup to justify anyone paying for one of mine.  Imposter syndrome is healthy for amateurs in a pursuit like this one where tiny details make the difference between a $100 fiddle and a $100,000 fiddle.  

This is one of the reasons that I have engaged VSA leadership in discussion on whether we might be able to have a section of the new instrument display for amateur makers rather than have ours mixed in with the professional makers.  We will see if anything comes from it, and in the meantime, I will keep making and reading and learning.

[Brian in Texas]

Good to know I'm not alone. I have my doubts that I'll ever be actually good at this, even for an amateur. But since I'm not planning on making it my career, that is ultimately ok and I can just live with that.

[Sean Couch]

I had to look up the definition of imposter syndrome. I don’t think I have ever experienced the issue. The definition I found said; “Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a "fraud," despite clear evidence of their competence and success.”

I don’t think there has been any clear evidence of my competence and success in violin making, so I don’t qualify. I don’t have any issue with showing people my work, or having people play my creations. Granted, I only know two people who play better than I do or know more than I do about violins.

I usually stay pretty quiet about violin making. If I mention it during a conversation and no interest is shown, I quickly skip to a new topic. Most peoples’ eyes seem to glaze over after a minute of me talking about it, so I try to spare them the boredom. lol.

I would love to hear and see some “real” violins, but I don’t think a shop owner would appreciate me waltzing into their establishment wanting to kick the tires on some of their $10k+ violins. Especially since I have no intention to buy.

[Jay Higgs]

On 12/31/2025 at 8:46 AM, Brian in Texas said:

I decided to try the Accu-Burr burnisher in an effort to get better results out of my scrapers. Here is my first impression and review. 

My talk to the San Antonio Luthiers was delayed due to weather, so I was able to get an Accu Burr burnisher to try out ahead of time.  So far, I can turn a sharp edge with it, but I don't get the fine, plane-like shavings I do with my traditional burnisher.  Maybe I'm not using it correctly.  With the traditional burnisher, I have learned 1) get both edges sharp at 90 degrees, not with just a file but with a good fine stone or equivalent 2) burnish each flat side of the scraper first; this is critical and 3) then with minimal lubrication, burnish the edge first at 90 degrees until it feels smooth, then gently lean to a few degrees either side.  If it goes dull during use, you can repeat 2 and 3 a few times, but never 3 alone.  That is my experience.  

[Jay Higgs]

On 1/29/2026 at 2:48 PM, Matthew_Graesch said:

This is one of the reasons that I have engaged VSA leadership in discussion on whether we might be able to have a section of the new instrument display for amateur makers rather than have ours mixed in with the professional makers.

Matt is a good person with a great idea.  I am skeptical that the VSA leadership values our participation, but we seem to find each other at meetings and have a good time.  Maybe we need to find a way for all amateurs to get together at VSA on our own.  

[Matthew_Graesch]

On 1/31/2026 at 5:34 PM, Jay Higgs said:

Matt is a good person with a great idea.  I am skeptical that the VSA leadership values our participation, but we seem to find each other at meetings and have a good time.  Maybe we need to find a way for all amateurs to get together at VSA on our own.  

I think we might have a couple good people on "our" side now and they are willing to help us (the amateurs) have a voice at VSA.  Ever hopeful......

[Riccardo964]

On 1/28/2026 at 7:26 PM, Will Turner said:

Also a happy wife a happy life.   Been a blessing for me for the last 33 years, especially since she's excited that I'm enjoying learning this craft.

Yes, I feel that - wife seems ok with me spending hours and hours shaving micro portions of wood surfaces for apparently no gains in sound response, and she seems fine by it!

Cheerios, great content here!

Riccardo964

[Brian in Texas]

Well, it's been a while since I posted. To be perfectly honest, I've been sidelined by depression and marital problems. Haven't made it out to my shop in months and work on my first viola has stalled. I need to get back out there and get things done, but it's been hard to motivate myself to do simple things.

Today I got an email from a local magazine that wants to interview me. I'm really curious how they came across me, to be honest. It's been months since I posted anything on YouTube or TikTok, and I'm not exactly what you'd call an accomplished or prominent artist. I've only made one violin so far, and that was pretty sloppy.

I'll do the interview, because why not? I guess I'll see where things go from here.

Now to just get back to making. My little outdoor shop has a window AC unit and fan to help cool things off, but yesterday the heat index in my part of Texas was 119 F (48 C). Once more unto the breach, dear friends...

[eliseveldt]

1 hour ago, Brian in Texas said:

Well, it's been a while since I posted. To be perfectly honest, I've been sidelined by depression and marital problems. Haven't made it out to my shop in months and work on my first viola has stalled. I need to get back out there and get things done, but it's been hard to motivate myself to do simple things.

Today I got an email from a local magazine that wants to interview me. I'm really curious how they came across me, to be honest. It's been months since I posted anything on YouTube or TikTok, and I'm not exactly what you'd call an accomplished or prominent artist. I've only made one violin so far, and that was pretty sloppy.

I'll do the interview, because why not? I guess I'll see where things go from here.

Now to just get back to making. My little outdoor shop has a window AC unit and fan to help cool things off, but yesterday the heat index in my part of Texas was 119 F (48 C). Once more unto the breach, dear friends...

good to see you back. maybe dusting off the tools will give some distraction. make sure to post the link to the interview may it happen!