MIMF

I'm working on an electric violin for my daughter. This one has a simplified scroll as the tuners are on the opposite end of the strings. I wanted to emulate an acoustic violin scroll on the bottom. I'm am concerned that when a gloss finish is applied the carved profile imperfections will be obvious. I have a hard rubber cylinder that I've used to sand the profile, but this only highlights the imperfections. Wondered what tools and techniques others use to create this feature. Thanks for any suggestions!

Have you tried a scraper? I make scrapers of hard steel, quite thin (.015"?) Blue-tempered watch-spring works well, or, if you can find an old drywall mudding knife (especially a large one) you can make several out of such a blade.

I have scrapers I made that somewhat fit the curve of the cross-section of one channel, and others with a much larger radius, that I use laterally, to good effect.

There are numerous on-line explanations of how to sharpen a scraper.

Chet

Thanks for the great suggestion for materials to make a special scraper from Chet. The sheetrock mudding knife hadn't occured to me as a good heat treated raw material for a custom scraper - I'll be trying that!

I'm no expert, but it does not look horrible to me. I'd expect my first attempt at a violin head-piece to be much more frightening than that.

I would follow Chucks suggestions, especially the one that it doesn't look like it needs much more attention. Even the great Stradivari left tool marks under his varnish.

Hey Barry, I didn't really suggest anything.
I think it was Chet.

Thanks for the encouragement. Chet, I did try a scraper and what a difference that made. Scrapers are a miraculous invention. I'm off and running again.

Keep 'em really sharp, and they do some great things.
Keep us posted.

Sorry Chuck, my dysfunctional brain is seeing Chuck when it should see Chet.