Posted on January 19, 2010September 9, 2025 by Dale Phillips Mirror with Penlight Mirror with Penlight by Tim Olsen Originally published in Guild of American Luthiers Data Sheet #22, 1976 and Lutherie Tools, 1990 Simply tape a penlight flashlight (Eveready Heavy duty will do), to a dentist-style 1" round mirror with a 6" or so handle. Position the light to get a 1" spot of light and so that the beam is entirely reflected into the instrument to be inspected. Sight down the barrel of the penlight. The area you see in the mirror will always be full illuminated. This was Dale Kormo’s idea. ◆
Posted on January 19, 2010September 10, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Lutherie Related Skin Rash Questions: Lutherie Related Skin Rash by Udi Vachterman Originally published in American Lutherie #80, 2004 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Seven, 2015 Udi Vachterman from Rehovot, Israel writes: Way back in American Lutherie #58 there was a question from Henry Kingery of Pittsfield, IL. He wrote about a severe itchy skin rash presumably brought on by woods or chemicals in glues. He was taking a synthetic steroid to keep it in check. I know it has been a long time, but I would still like to tell him and others of my experience with a similar problem. A few years ago, just a few days after being exposed to a lot of chemicals and wood dust (an Argentinian wood called “algarrobbo,” which I believe to be “carob tree”), I noticed that small extremely itchy liquid-filled bumps started appearing on the backs of my hands, especially around the joints. With time the bumps developed into shallow wounds and spread toward my wrists. Similar symptoms appeared on my elbows and the upper part of my feet. I went to see four doctors who each had a different diagnosis of my problem. However, they all advised the same treatment, cortisone creams. Yet, they all told me that the cortisone is unlikely to cure the disease, just help manage its symptoms. However this did not make much sense to me. If I am sick, then I want to know what it is and not have four opinions of what it might be. So I went to seek advice of the local pharmacist. To my surprise, she told me that her son has, or had, to be correct, the same problem. It’s a type of psoriasis, a skin disease that is often the body’s response to a trauma caused to the skin (skin injury, skin infections, reaction to certain chemicals). Her treatment was as follows: 1. Extensive use of natural hypo-allergic moisturizing cream. 2. Fish oil (omega 3 essential fatty acids); 3 capsules daily, 1000 MG each, taken with food. 3. Tea tree essential oil used topically for itchiness. After a few months all my symptoms disappeared. My hands were almost like new and I have since built a guitar, inlaid it, and finished it without any of the above mentioned symptoms. And I can once again play my guitars without bleeding while bending strings! If anyone tries this and it helps them, I’d love to hear from them: vachterm@hotmail.com.
Posted on January 19, 2010September 9, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Violin Ribs Questions: Violin Ribs by Randy DeBey Originally published in American Lutherie #70, 2002 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Six, 2013 David K. Kyle of cyberspace asks: I came across a violin made by the JCV Company where the ribs are one continuous piece, and there are no corner or end blocks. The ribs are shaped as if there are corner blocks. It is a little thicker at the end to hold the end pin, the two ends of the ribs are joined to the heel by grooves. The heel protrudes into the body to accommodate the grooves. Is this an unusual method for making a violin? Randy DeBey of Portland, Oregon responds: There was a short discussion of this type of construction in a violin maker’s e-mail discussion group last fall. Apparently, this method was common in Saxony until the mid-1800s and can still be found today in remote places of Finland and Eastern Europe. Not long after the discussion, a violin of this type was brought to me for repair. It had a bottom block and thin wood plates across the insides of the corners to disguise its lack of corner blocks. The base of the neck extended into the top of the body and the upper ribs were wedged into grooves on the sides of the neck base. It was not a well-made fiddle, more of a curiosity. ◆
Posted on January 19, 2010September 10, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Toxicity of Odorless Superglue Questions: Toxicity of Odorless Superglue by Bill Hunter Originally published in American Lutherie #82, 2005 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Seven, 2015 Ralph from Austin, Texas asks: I recently read on a luthier e-mail list about a guy using odorless cyanoacrylate glue for filler. The brand he uses is by Satellite City, maker of Hot Stuff™ and UFO™, which stands for “user-friendly odorless.” I know from experience that vapors from CA glue are not friendly to the eyes or to the respiratory system. My question is: if it has no scent and you don’t have any skin exposure, does this mean it’s rendered totally nontoxic or nonirritating? The bigger question is: how are products made odorless? Are there just blocking agents so that we are unable to detect them, but they’re still there, and therefore still irritating or toxic? Bill Hunter of Simi Valley, California, cofounder of Satellite City, answers: “Toxic,” in general implies a lasting or long-term harmful effect. Cyanoacrylate adhesives are not toxic except to those who are allergic to them. The same could be said of milk, peanuts, and grains. “Irritating” is comparable to the feeling one gets in the eyes and nose when dicing onions. The scent is not what irritates the eyes, nose, and throat, it’s the fumes. And, of course, if the fumes are masked, a product can give the unrealistic impression that there will be no irritation. In fact, the scent of many chemicals is a good gauge by which to judge exposure. If, on the other hand, there is no scent because there are no fumes, you have the best possible working conditions. Hot Stuff “UFO” instant adhesives have been relied on by folks who have allergic reactions to typical cyanoacrylates since 1988. Many of these people can’t be in the same room where an instant glue is being used without a violent reaction. No problem with “UFO.” It’s the only CA they can use. Regarding skin exposure: Skin exposure, even for typical cyanoacrylates, is not a consideration for 99.99% of users, and in thirty-five years, I have never, ever heard of anyone being bothered in any way by skin exposure to “UFO.” Note: Mr. Hunter also sent me the MSDS on CA glues, which didn’t help me understand. I tried to follow-up Mr. Hunter’s answer and he repeated the above information. I’d like to hear from some of you with sensitivities to the regular stuff and perhaps others who understand the chemical lingo. A product so seemingly integral and essential to modern lutherie certainly deserves a little scrutiny.
Posted on January 19, 2010September 9, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Brushing Varnish Questions: Brushing Varnish by Wade Lowe Originally published in American Lutherie #70, 2002 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Six, 2013 Ray Thompson of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania asks: What would you recommend for a good brushing varnish, either oil-based or spirit-based for guitar? Or do you know of recent written material on this? I have tried Behlen’s 4-Hour Rubbing Varnish. It did not seem to dry hard enough on test pieces. I tried the French polish (shellac) but now I’d like to try a brushing varnish for its ease of application as compared to spraying or French polishing. I have thought of trying to brush shellac. I read that if you do very thin 10% coats it can work. Then just fad level and spirit it off after build up. But that might be as tricky as French polish. I want a finish I can brush on, let dry a prescribed amount of time, steel wool it back; and repeat as necessary. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
