If you are a good with crafts and want to take on a special project that will bring you pride to complete, you may want to consider building a home made violin. It takes skill and precision, but if you have the skill and the drive it can certainly be done. To get an overview of the process, read this guide on how to make a violin.
Before you begin making your violin, remember that the process will require plenty of patience. A violin is a finely tuned instrument, and precision is a must if you want to get a quality sound from it. Violin makers spend years perfecting the art, and your first one will probably not come out perfectly. Still, this is an excellent hobby for crafty music lovers.
Step 1: Gather Materials
You will need:
- A violin mold
- A violin to use for reference
- Clamps
- Blocks of cedar, poplar or willow wood
- A good wood glue
- A special violin-making iron (you will need to purchase from a specialty shop)
- An ebony strip for the fingerboard
- A saw
- A rasp
- A file
- Various violin parts such as a bridge, strings, and tuning pegs, purchased from a specialty store
Step 2: Create a Workspace
You will need to dedicate a spacious work area to your violin project. A garage or spare room is ideal, and you should have a table set up for your tools and materials. Your space should not be accessible to children or pets. Cover the floor of the area with tarp or a sheet to avoid damaging the floor.
Step 3: Assemble
The assembly process is quite detailed, and the best course of action is to borrow or purchase a book. Your local library is a good source for materials, and you can also go to a bookseller to browse selections.
Online references exist, but the steps will not be as detailed as a book. Two good web sources are www.theviolinsite.com and www.bartruff.com.
