The first steps in making Violin #6, Fiona is building the violin rib assembly. To get started we set the corner gluing blocks to the form and then gluing the ribs. It all sounds pretty simple until, like most things, you get into the details.

This first photo shows fitting the template over the form and marking the edges of the corner blocks. The insides of the corner blocks are trimmed and clued first, then the outsides of hte blocks. If you trim the outside, the point is so fragile that it will break when clamping in the C bouts, the tight middle rib pieces.

We test if the corner block is trimmed close enough by trying to hold a pencil line on the wooden block. If the block is the correct size the pencil will slip down the side rather than draw on the edge.

This next photo shows fitting the clamping cauls to the corners. A clamping caul is used to hold the exact curve during clamping. If the caul is not an exact reverse surface from the corner block, you will get gaps which are weak glue joints. Also the ribs need to fit, clamp and glue perfectly square, else the finished violin will not rest flat on its side, all four outer edges of the plates touching flat.

Once the cauls are all trimmed and fit, a test clamp assures that the ribs will fit tight into the corner blocks. The entire assembly is clamped up without glue with each corner seam checked top and bottom for a clean fit. Once everything is correct pencil lines are drawn on the sides and forms to show the exact position when the gluing starts.

If it doesn’t fit dry, it will certainly not fit in the rush of getting everything together before the hot hide glue starts to set.

Next Steps Trimming the top and bottom and gluing the rib assembly together.