DIY Violin Bow
- 1). Cut the wood plank into an outline resembling a violin bow and its tip. The optimal length of a violin bow is 29 to 30 inches. Spruce and maple are two common types of wood that can be used to make the bow.
- 2). Carve and plan the stick to its characteristic octagonal cross-section shape using a simple block plane.
- 3). File the stick to remove any tool marks.
- 4). Heat the stick slowly, five or six inches at a time, over a direct heat source, such as a gas burner. Heat the wood almost to its scorching point until it becomes flexible enough to bend. Press the stick against a hardwood form to curve it a few degrees. This slight curve is called a camber. The curve should be sharper near the bow head and more gradual towards the frog, the opposite end of the bow.
- 5). Bend the stick into a rough curve. Allow time for the stick to cool.
- 6). Square a frog from ebony or other wood into a rectangular shape about 1 inch long and 1/4 inch wide. The frog is what the thumb of the bow hand rest on when playing a stringed instrument. Plane the sides of the frog to form a trapezoidal shape. The finished frog will be several millimeters narrower at the top than at the bottom.
- 7). Drill and saw the front end of the frog to a "U" shape lying on its side. Carve the "U" shape bottom of the frog until it is half-round and fits against the edges of the stick.
- 8). Rub the frog against the stick at the point where the frog will fit. Plane, scrape and file the stick until the frog fits properly on its edges.
- 9). Drill two small holes into the end of the bow for the screws to attach the frog.
- 10
Plane the thickness of the stick to its final dimensions in a process called graduation. The stick should taper from just under 1/4 inch to 5/16 inch at the frog end of the bow to just under 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch just behind the head of the bow. Preserve the octagon shape of the bow during this graduation process. - 11
Carve the bow's head into its characteristic curved contours with a knife and file. - 12
Glue a thin piece of metal or silver piece to the filed area of the bow's head. Cut a mortise, or a rectangular opening, through the metal and into the wood to hold the upper end of the horse hair. - 13
Polish the bow with a diluted solution of shellac using a lightly oiled cloth wrapped around your fingers. This process is called "French polishing," and it gives the bow protection and shine. - 14
Separate a small amount of horse hair from the bundle. Horse hair is selected, drawn and bundled into uniform lengths when you purchase it. Tie one end of the hair together using a strong thin thread. - 15
Carve a small wooden plug to fit the mortise in the head of the bow. - 16
Heat the knot of the hair over a flame to strengthen it and to expand the hair behind it. Allow time for the knot to cool, then place the knotted end in the bow head. - 17
Turn the hair under and fasten it into the head with the small wooden plug. This holds the hair across the top edge of the head uniformly flat. - 18
Carve another small wooden plug to fit the mortise in the frog. - 19
Measure the hair to the length of the bow and cut off. Brush and arrange the hair carefully with a fine-tooth comb. - 20
Pull the hair into the frog. This holds the hair across the top edge of the frog uniformly flat. - 21
Fasten the hair with the wooden plug that fits the width of the ferrule, or a metal ring or cap. This holds and spreads the hair in a ribbon-like fashion. - 22
Push the plug into the ferrule against the hair and trim off the excess. Apply rosin on the hair for grip.
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