A violin bow was recently brought into the shop for some rehabilitation. Both holes for the screw and button, including the nipple, needed to be bushed and remade. The process is explained in detail here.
Bushing the Stick of a Violin Bow
Latest Bows – August 2019
This is a gallery of some of the latest bows hot off the bench of bow maker Anthony DiMambro.
Frog Bushing
Over time, the eyelet in the frog can become worn out and needs to be replaced. After several replacements the threads in the frog that the eyelet screws in to can become worn out as well. This Bausch violin bow has been well loved and well used over the years and needs a frog bushing.
Top Articles of 2019
We've been busy creating some new and exciting content and can't wait to share it with everyone. In the meantime here are the top 5 of the most read articles over the past year.
Silver Winding and Leather Grip
The winding on a bow is designed to protect the stick and give the bow adequate weight and balance. There are several consideration when replacing a winding and grip.
Headspline
The following outlines the procedure for a headspline which reinforces a broken head with a thin strip of pernambuco inserted in the opposite direction of the grain in the stick. This type of repair when executed well can last indefinitely and restore many, if not all, the playing characteristics of the bow
Carbon Fiber Bows
Players have been turning to carbon fiber bows as backup bows for some time now but more players are turning to carbon fiber for their primary bow. Traditionally the accepted material for bows has been pernambuco but with the advent of new manufacturing technologies coupled with the decrease of production costs has perpetuated carbon fiber to be used in thousands of products, including bows for stringed instruments. Carbon fiber is currently the best synthetic material we have for the construction of acoustic components.
Making a Cutter
The following is the process I take to make most of my cutters. Here I describe the making of a cutter to form the nipples on the end of the stick for the button seat on. Also, a little info about available lathes.
Winding Materials
When adding a winding to a bow, bow makers don't just put on whatever we think looks nice. There are several considerations that each material presents including, weight, balance, sound, and feel. Gold / Silver / Nickel Wire Metal wire can be obtained in different gauges but I mostly use 32 gauge which measures about …
Bowmaking Tools
I wanted to highlight some of the eclectic and unique tools that I use for bow making. Making bows combines skills and tools from woodworking, jewelry making, and machining. It is difficult to find tools that accommodate the small scale and level of detail we work to, so a number of tools we make or modify ourselves.
