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Instrument Making School - Lecture 6, Inserting the Ribs Once you have the markings, you will need to cut out exactly with a gouge the centre block and to the line.
Figure 6A - Markings The next process is to put in the ribs on our blocks starting of with the centre bouts first. Chisel out the centre bouts using our flat surface and quite accurately chisel to our markings on the blocks using a half round chisel. Make sure that you have a flat surface to do this.
Figure 6B - Chisel Please note that only the inside centre block should be cut out. This is for putting the centre ribs in and ensuring stability. Do not chisel out the other markings, only the centre bouts. Inserting the centre ribs Before we start inserting the ribs, you will need to position and mark the ribs in such as way that the flame of the rib runs in the same direction throughout. See picture below.
Figure 6C - Note the direction of the rib's grain Bending the ribs The process of bending the ribs in requires a bending iron. See if you can ask your local violin or guitar maker for a bending iron. A bending iron is quite an expensive instrument however we can provide you any tools and equipment that you require (violinmaker@violin-world.com). Assuming you have a bending iron or access to one, we will proceed to bend the centre ribs in. You will need some strips of paper as long as the ribs and some water to soak the ribs. 1. Ensure your bending iron is hot enough so water will bead of it, 2 Soak ribs completely in cold water, 3. Place paper between rib and bending iron. This is to prevent the rib from being scorched, 4. Place bending sheet on bending iron and proceed to bend rib slowly - bending the rib to the shape of the bending iron. You should notice the hissing of the steam. Hold the position until hissing subsides but not too long to burn the rib,
Figure 6D - Bending iron 5. Place rib in centre bout to see if it fits. Sometimes you have to go back to alter it until you get a perfect fit, 6. Once the rib is fitting snuggly, trim the edges squarely so we can position our clamping blocks for gluing. Allow an overhang of about 8-10 mm, 7. Apply glue to the block surface ensuring that the mould does not get glued. Some wax on the mould may help to ensure that the rib does not stick to the mould, 8. Clamp block firmly so that there are no gaps on both sides and leave for a minimum of three hours,
Figure 6E - Clamp Ribs 9. Insert instrument template (Photo 2A) for trimming of corners. Measure from corner of instrument template to the corner of inserted middle rib. Mark and square off, all four corners. (Picture below).
Figure 6H - Template with ribs inserted Lectures: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Next |
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