This violin arrived with its ribs completely loos from the endblock, requiring careful reattachment to restore structural integrity. The process begins by heating hide glue and drawing it into a syringe with a fine mixing needle for precise application. The glue is carefully injected between the ribs and endblock, while gently working the ribs to ensure the adhesive spreads evenly into all open areas. After proper glue distribution, the joint is clamped securely—using cellophane and a leather pad for added protection—and left to dry for a full day. In this particular case, the open seam was also glued during the process. Once cured, the clamps are removed and any excess glue is cleaned away, completing the repair. - Prepare glue: Heat up the hide glue until it's ready for use.
- Fill syringe: Use a mixing needle to draw the warmed glue into a syringe for precise application.
- Inject glue: Carefully inject the glue between the ribs and the endblock, reaching into the loose areas.
- Distribute glue: Gently work the ribs back and forth to help the glue spread evenly into all open gaps between the ribs and the block.
- Apply clamps: Secure the joint using the specialized clamp shown in the photo.
- Protect surfaces: Use cellophane and an additional leather pad to protect the ribs while clamping.
- Allow to dry: Keep the clamp tightened for one full day to ensure a strong bond.
- Glue open seam: In this case, the open seam was also glued and secured during the same repair process.
- Clean excess glue: The following day, remove the clamps and clean away any remaining glue residue.
 IMG 20250611 102059 080 | IMG 20250611 111306 993 |
After removing the clamps, I realized the endblock was slightly misaligned—off by about 1 mm. In hindsight, gluing the ribs back on before correcting the block position was premature. To fix the alignment, I’ll carefully open the ribs again and adjust the block position slightly to bring everything back into proper alignment before re-gluing. |
