Beginner’s Violin-Building Course Outline

My Order of Operations in Building a Violin/Viola, etc.:

1. Secure the templates, either from personal design, an existing instrument, or drawings.
   • Main template
   • Arching templates
2. Use the main template to make a 1 or 2-part corpus mold.
3. Cut and install the blocks.
4. Prepare the ribs, by planing, scraping, or sanding (or all three).
5. Bend the ribs, using a bending iron, and install them on the blocks (several steps).
6. Prepare, install, and shape the linings.
7. Use a sanding board (or alternate method) to flatten the front and back of the garland
8. Prepare the plate stock (book-match, glue, and flatten the inner side of both plates).
9. Use the completed garland to establish the shape of the front plate.
10. Cut the front plate exactly to size, including filing and sanding
11. Front Arching and Graduation
    • Begin the front outer arching, including the edge thickness.
    • Complete the front outer arching, using the arching templates.
    • Lay out and incise the f-holes
    • Begin the inner arching and graduation of the front plate.
    • Complete the graduation using a graduation map.
    • Complete the channel, and the final scraping outside 
12. Cut and finish the f-holes,
13. Install the bass bar,
    1. Shape the bass-bar
14. Complete the inner edgework for the front plate
15. Install the front plate.
16. Lay out, cut, and install the front purfling.
    1. Complete the edgework and final channel shape
17. Complete the neck and scroll. (several steps)
18. Temporarily install the fingerboard.
19. Set the neck
    1. Cut the neck mortise.
    2. Install the neck.
20. Flatten the back of the garland, bringing the neck-heel flush with the back of the garland.
21. Use the completed garland to establish the shape of the back plate, including the button..
22. Cut the back plate exactly to size, including filing and sanding (not including the button)
23. Back Arching and Graduation
    • Begin the back outer arching, including the edge thickness.
    • Complete the back outer arching, using the arching templates.
    • Begin the inner arching and graduation of the back plate.
    • Complete the back plate graduation using a graduation map.
    • Complete the channel, and the final scraping outside 
24. Remove the 2-part corpus mold.
25. Complete the inner edgework of the back plate
26. Install the label.
27. Install the back plate.
28. Complete Varnish Preparation of the entire instrument
    • Remove the fingerboard
    • Complete the outer edgework on both plates
    • Raise the grain and scrape all humps and hollows smooth
    • Shape the edges to perfection
29. Varnish the instrument. (several steps)
30. Complete preliminary installation of the soundpost.
31. Install the saddle and finish it.
32. Install the end-button (or end-pin plug, in cello or double bass)
33. Permanently install the fingerboard
    • Dress the fingerboard
    • Fit and install the nut
34. Fit and install the pegs
35. Fit the bridge.
36. Complete the set-up of the violin,
    • Adjust the height of the strings at the nut
    • Adjust the height of the strings at the end of the fingerboard
    • Adjust the “afterlength” (tailpiece position)
    • Install the chinrest
37. Play the instrument for final adjustment of bridge and soundpost for optimum playability, balance, and sound.