Thursday, August 31, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
La voute / The arching
Après avoit collé les filets, et sculpté la gorge à la gouge, je suis maintenant en train de sculpter la voûte du fond. Comme vous pouvez le voir sur les photos suivantes, je sculpte avec ce qu'on appèle une 'Noisette'. Cette noisette est en fait un petit rabot (avec une semelle plate ou bombée) qui est tenu entre les doigts. Sur la première photo, vous pouvez aussi bien voir les ondes du bois.
After having glued the purfling and gouged the purfling fluting, I am now carving the arching of the back plate. As you can see on the following pictures, this is done with thumb planes. Those planes are very small, and you hold them between the fingers. On the first picture the flaming of this mable is very visible.

After having glued the purfling and gouged the purfling fluting, I am now carving the arching of the back plate. As you can see on the following pictures, this is done with thumb planes. Those planes are very small, and you hold them between the fingers. On the first picture the flaming of this mable is very visible.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Les filets / The purfling
Après avoir façonné les bords, creusé et ajusté la mortaise, coupé et courbé les filets, ajusté les pointes et les becs de corbeaux, je suis maintenant prêt à coller les filets en place. Comme vous pouvez le voir sur la photo ci-dessous.
After having shaped the outline and the sitde of the bottom, made and shaped the mortice, cut and curved the purfling, adjusted the corners and the bee sting, I am now ready to glue the purfling in the mortice. As you may see in this picture.
After having shaped the outline and the sitde of the bottom, made and shaped the mortice, cut and curved the purfling, adjusted the corners and the bee sting, I am now ready to glue the purfling in the mortice. As you may see in this picture.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Ébauchage / Rough carving
Voici les photos du fond pendant et après l'ébauchage. Je vais maintenant le préparer pour pouvoir poser les filets avant de finir la sculpture de la voute.
Here are pictures of the back during and after the rough carving. I am now going to prepare it in order to put the purfling. And then I will finish the carving of the arching.

Here are pictures of the back during and after the rough carving. I am now going to prepare it in order to put the purfling. And then I will finish the carving of the arching.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Le fond / The back
Après avoir tracé le contour de la couronne d'éclisses sur le fond, je l'ai découpé à la scie à ruban. Je vais ensuite pouvoir commencer à le sculpter pour ébaucher la voute.
After having traced the outline of the ribs on the back plate, I sawed it with a band-saw. Now I am going to do the rough carving to start creating the arching.
After having traced the outline of the ribs on the back plate, I sawed it with a band-saw. Now I am going to do the rough carving to start creating the arching.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Préparation des tables / Top and bottom preparation
Hièr, j'ai jointé les deux pièces d'érables qui vont servir pour le fond. Et aussi les deux pièces d'épinette qui vont servir à fabriquer le dessus du violon. Ce matin, je prépare ces pièces pour aplanir le dessous. Cette surface va service de surface de référence pour pouvoir tracer et découper le contour du violon et sculpter les tables.
Yesterday, I have jointed the two maple wedges used to make the back. And also the two spruce wedges to make the top. This morning, I am preparing those plates to flatten one side. This surface will become the reference surface where I will trace and saw the violin outline and also sculpt the plates.
Yesterday, I have jointed the two maple wedges used to make the back. And also the two spruce wedges to make the top. This morning, I am preparing those plates to flatten one side. This surface will become the reference surface where I will trace and saw the violin outline and also sculpt the plates.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Test de peinture / Paint tests
Dans le concept de ce projet, on à l'intention d'ajouter une peinture sur le fond du violon. Cette peinture doit être faite par un artiste de Québec. Comme rien n'est encore finalisé, je donnerais plus de détail à ce sujet plus tard. Mais en attendant, on veut faire des tests pour voir quelle technique (peinture à l'huile ou peinture acrylique) donnera le meilleur résultat pour peindre entre deux couches de vernis. J'ai donc préparé une plaque de bois (voir photo) sur laquelle je vais ajouter quelques couches de vernis durant les prochaines semaines. Par la suite on pourra faire des tests de peinture sur cette plaquette.
In the concept of this project we would like to add a painting on the violin back. This painting will be done by a Quebec city artist. As nothing is sure yet, I will give more detail about this in another post. Meanwhile, we want to test wich of oil painting or acrylic will be the best to paint on the violin varnish (between layers of varnish). Thus I have prepared a wood plate (See picture) on which I will add a few layers of varnish during the next few weeks. Then we will be able to make the test.
In the concept of this project we would like to add a painting on the violin back. This painting will be done by a Quebec city artist. As nothing is sure yet, I will give more detail about this in another post. Meanwhile, we want to test wich of oil painting or acrylic will be the best to paint on the violin varnish (between layers of varnish). Thus I have prepared a wood plate (See picture) on which I will add a few layers of varnish during the next few weeks. Then we will be able to make the test.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
La couronne est complétée / The ribs are done
La couronne d'éclisse est maintenant complétée. Comme on peut le voir sur la première photo, les éclisses ont étés collées sur les blocs et les tasseaux. Les pointes on étés faconnées. Et les contre-éclisses sont maintenant posées et ont étés faconnées pour réduire le poids:
The ribs have now been made. As we can see on this picture, the ribs have been glued on the top, bottom and corner blocks . The corners have been shaped. And the linings have been glued and trimmed to reduce their weight:

Voici la couronne vue sous un autre angle:
Here are the ribs in a different view:

Et voici un détail de l'une des pointes, ou on peut voir l'insertion de la contre-éclisse dans le bloc de coin:
And here is a detailed view of a corner. Where you can see how the end of the lining has been inserted in the corner block:

La prochaine étape est maintenant de jointer les pièces du fond et du dessus pour pouvoir commencer à les sculpter.
The next step is now to glue the two wedges of the back and top and start sculpting them.
The ribs have now been made. As we can see on this picture, the ribs have been glued on the top, bottom and corner blocks . The corners have been shaped. And the linings have been glued and trimmed to reduce their weight:
Voici la couronne vue sous un autre angle:
Here are the ribs in a different view:
Et voici un détail de l'une des pointes, ou on peut voir l'insertion de la contre-éclisse dans le bloc de coin:
And here is a detailed view of a corner. Where you can see how the end of the lining has been inserted in the corner block:
La prochaine étape est maintenant de jointer les pièces du fond et du dessus pour pouvoir commencer à les sculpter.
The next step is now to glue the two wedges of the back and top and start sculpting them.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Les éclisses / The ribs
Après avoir sculpté les blocs du haut et du bas, j'ai sculpté le deuxiemme coté de chaque coins pour refléter le contour du violon. J'ai ensuite plié les éclisses à la chaleur pour qu'elles prennent la forme du moule (voir photo).
After having shaped the top and bottom block, I have shaped the second side of each corner to make them reflect the violin outline. After that, I have bent the ribs on a hot iron to give them the sape of the mould (see picture).

La prochaine étape est de préparer le joint du bas et de coller toutes les éclisses sur les blocs et tasseaux.
The next step is to shape the bottom joint and glue the ribs on the blocks and corners.
After having shaped the top and bottom block, I have shaped the second side of each corner to make them reflect the violin outline. After that, I have bent the ribs on a hot iron to give them the sape of the mould (see picture).
La prochaine étape est de préparer le joint du bas et de coller toutes les éclisses sur les blocs et tasseaux.
The next step is to shape the bottom joint and glue the ribs on the blocks and corners.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
La couronne d'éclisse / Making the ribs
Cette semaine j'ai commencé à travailler sur le violon destiné à l'organisme des Jeunes Musiciens du Monde. J'ai sélectionné le bois et j'ai commencé la couronne d'éclisse comme vous pouvez le voir sur la photo suivante:
This week, I have started working on the "Jeunes Musiciens du Monde" violin. I have selected the wood and I have started to make the ribs as you can see on the following picture:
This week, I have started working on the "Jeunes Musiciens du Monde" violin. I have selected the wood and I have started to make the ribs as you can see on the following picture:
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Projet Jeunes musiciens du monde
Depuis le début de la semaine, j'ai commencé à travailler sur le violon destiné à être vendu aux enchères pour financer l'organisme Jeunes Musiciens du Monde . Ce projet est financé par une bourse provenant de la Fondation canadienne des bourses d'études du millénaire (La subvention du millénaire). L'intention soit que ce violon représente l'école de musique. Donc je vais utiliser des bois Québecois pour le réaliser, et le modèle est un modèle conçu à Québec durant cet hiver. Ce sera le même modèle que ce violon. Je vous invite à venir consulter mon blog régulièrement pour voir l'évolution de la fabrication de cet instrument.
Since the the beginning of the week, I have started building the violin that will be auctionned to raise funds for the Young Musicians of the World organization. This project has been made possible by the subvention offered by the Millennium Scholarship Foundation (see the Millenium Grant Programm). My goal is the represent the music school through that violin. Thus, I will use local wood from Québec to build it. And the model has been designed in Québec this winter. This will be the same model as this violin. I invite you to come back often to my blog to see the progression of the building process.
Since the the beginning of the week, I have started building the violin that will be auctionned to raise funds for the Young Musicians of the World organization. This project has been made possible by the subvention offered by the Millennium Scholarship Foundation (see the Millenium Grant Programm). My goal is the represent the music school through that violin. Thus, I will use local wood from Québec to build it. And the model has been designed in Québec this winter. This will be the same model as this violin. I invite you to come back often to my blog to see the progression of the building process.
Bienvenue / Welcome
Bienvenue sur mon nouveau site web. Ce site vous permettra de découvrir les instruments (et autres) que je fabrique. Ainsi que d'avoir des nouvelles de mes projets en cours.
Welcome on my new website. This site will let you discover my instruments (and other) production. And read news about my current work in progress.
Welcome on my new website. This site will let you discover my instruments (and other) production. And read news about my current work in progress.

