The pattern is based on The Strad’s Stainer 1679 poster published in their April 1990 issue.

I use an inside mold with a large clearance for c-clamps which I use for clamping the counter-forms for attaching the ribs to the blocks.

In this build i’m making two violins more or less simultaneously.   The Ribs are well flamed with a wide grain (local British Columbia wood). The blocks are made from Newfoundland Black Spruce.

Note the grain orientation on the blocks.

 The shape of the outside of the plates is now set. I’ll double check the flow of the Purfling channel to make sure there aren’t any bump and then move on to the hollowing.
I used only finger planes, gouges, chisel blades, and scrapers to achieve the finish.

I’ve made some progress on the back from my Stainer 1679 inspired violin.

The purfling channel was cut using two Ibex style purfling markers/cutter, one for the outer cut and one for the inner.  This is the method promoted by Roger Hargrave.  I found this particularly useful on the belly.

The channel depth was done using at Pfeil 9/10 gouge for the c-bout and a Pfeil 6/10 for upper and lower bouts, adapted from Davide Sora’s choice for the channel.  These had the bevel re-ground to create an even support while cutting. 

More on the method soon…