Tools

Moulds

Moulds are the forms on which the ribs of most string instruments are built. I like to use a two part mould, but one of these days I'll give a single part mould a try.

Dunno why, but I like the English spelling, maybe because mold is what I hate to find in my refrigerator.

This is the mould for my violin with a formed set of ribs standing in front. It is the mould described in Harry Wake's excellent book "The Technique of Violin Making," which is my main reference .

I make my moulds out of baltic birch plywood which is not a lot more expensive than a good grade of fir, and looks far better. Baltic birch is usually available in 60" by 60" sheets, so is used less often for building purposes and therefore slightly harder to find. I think it is worth the search. If I had unlimited funds I'd use Brunzeel from South Africa for my moulds.

This is a mould for a viola da gamba that I plan to build one of these days. The mould is almost finished, needing only a few holes to hold the special clamps that I also have to make. The clamps will hold the cauls in place for gluing the ribs to the corner blocks.

It is based on the mould in Wake's book on 'cello building.

The main hang-up in making a viola da gamba is how much room all the parts will take up.

It is not apparent from any of these pictures, but my workbench, roll-around tool caddy with drill press mounted on top, my band saw and my indispensable shop-vac are all crammed into a studio apartment.

Notice that I didn't even mention the two bicycles and the set of bike rollers, the two synths, guitar, three violins and the mandolin. The computer that I am writing this on is a laptop.

The space that a viola da gamba body and neck and mould and top and back will take up, before I get them assembled, is a bit scary.

I hope to face up to those fears pretty soon, since the viola da gamba is a favorite instrument of mine.


	Moulds
			Moulds are the forms on which the ribs of most string instruments are built. I like to use a two part mould, but one of these days I'll give a single part mould a try. Dunno why, but I like the English spelling, maybe because mold is what I hate to find in my refrigerator. This is the mould for my violin with a formed set of ribs standing in front. It is the mould described in Harry Wake's excellent book "The Technique of Violin Making," which is my main reference . I make my moulds out of baltic birch plywood which is not a lot more expensive than a good grade of fir, and looks far better. Baltic birch is usually available in 60" by 60" sheets, so is used less often for building purposes and therefore slightly harder to find. I think it is worth the search. If I had unlimited funds I'd use Brunzeel from South Africa for my moulds.
			This is a mould for a viola da gamba that I plan to build one of these days. The mould is almost finished, needing only a few holes to hold the special clamps that I also have to make. The clamps will hold the cauls in place for gluing the ribs to the corner blocks. It is based on the mould in Wake's book on 'cello building. The main hang-up in making a viola da gamba is how much room all the parts will take up. It is not apparent from any of these pictures, but my workbench, roll-around tool caddy with drill press mounted on top, my band saw and my indispensable shop-vac are all crammed into a studio apartment. Notice that I didn't even mention the two bicycles and the set of bike rollers, the two synths, guitar, three violins and the mandolin. The computer that I am writing this on is a laptop. The space that a viola da gamba body and neck and mould and top and back will take up, before I get them assembled, is a bit scary. I hope to face up to those fears pretty soon, since the viola da gamba is a favorite instrument of mine.