Scroll repair

How to repair a cracked scroll.

This is how we received the scroll. The violin was abandoned in a basement and had been previously repaired. String tension and humidity caused all glue joints to give. Pieces were missing.

A custom form is made to secure the scroll during glueing.

The peg holes are filled with temporary bushings and a further piece of hardwood provides a resting place for the clamp foot.

The scroll can be safely glued with this fixture

Further temporary bushing have been installed to stabilize the pegbox. The facings will have to be fitted and glued. Please note facings are an outdated repair method and should not be installed any more due to the massive loss of original wood. There are plenty of less invasive methods to repair a cracked scroll. However, once present the most conservative way of repair is to replace them without further removing wood.

Spiral bushings are usually strong enough to counter-pressure force from the pegs and are the least invasive method of bushing and reinforcing peg holes.

The scroll prior to grafting and retouch. Artificially aged wood has been used for the facing. This will facilitate retouch and make the repair stand out less, should further wear occur.

Facings and spiral reinforcing bushings in place. A temporary neckgraft was installed to facilitate fitting of missing pegbox parts and to stabilize old cracks.

Neckgraft and neckset in the initial stages of retouch.

The scroll after retouch. Retouching should include gentle antiquing, so the repair does not stand out as new.