Pegs Too Smooth

July 12, 2009 at 12:32 AM ·

Hi Sean,

I use Peg Drops Liquid Peg Compound - it is formulated to cure slipping and creaking pegs.  Use one drop per peg as indicated in the instructions.  Works well for me.  Available online ( I think I got mine from Shar a few years ago).

ab

July 12, 2009 at 02:34 AM ·

Wipe off some of the peg dope and see if that solves the problem.

Andy

July 12, 2009 at 02:44 AM ·

Peg compound (Hills or Goetz) usually takes care of both.  It's a waxy substance that both keeps the pegs from sticking, and helps them stay where you put them.  If there's too much compound and they don't stay, I usually just give them a few turns to work some of the peg compond out of the area.

If worse comes to worst, a little soft chalk will help them stick.  But if peg compound won't make them work right, they are likely going to have to be re-fit pretty soon.

Nobody I know who fixes violins for a living likes Peg Drops.  But then I don't know everybody.

July 12, 2009 at 03:47 PM ·

MIchael,

What is it about Peg Drops that the luthiers don't like?  Is the product harmful or damaging to the instrument?

Thanks,

ab

July 13, 2009 at 07:15 AM ·

" What is it about Peg Drops that the luthiers don't like?  Is the product harmful or damaging to the instrument?"

 They do some of the luthiers' job. ;-)

Regards.

July 13, 2009 at 10:45 AM ·

What I dislike most about "Peg Drops" is that the product doesn't dry, but remains a liquid, according to the manufacturer. A non-drying liquid will soak into the wood, and move a good distance given enough time. A paste product is more likely to stay where you put it.

From a repair perspective, getting a reliable glue bond on wood which has been saturated with anything can be problematic. For instance, how much original wood would need to be cut away to get a clean, reliable gluing surface when doing peg bushings? And how does the luthier know when enough wood has been removed?

It's the same type of problem we run into when trying to repair wood which has been saturated with polishes.

July 13, 2009 at 02:34 PM ·

Here is where acetone comes in handy....cleaning dope residue before gluing!  But it depends on the dope. Some materials dissolve better in Xylene, some in laquaer thinner (a toluene based brew) while others are best with alcohol.  Acetone and other ketones are rather special because of their compatibility with both polar and non-polar materials--They can dissolve a grease (non-polar), and hold it in solution in water or alcohol (polar)!

Acetone evaporates fast though; if it is difficult to get the dirty acetone off before it evaporates--leaving a residue, you can use slower-evaporating ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, or methyl isobutyl ketone.

Note: These techniques are for the professional violinmaker only. Not to be tried by amateurs (uless you like the look of ruined violin finishes).

July 13, 2009 at 02:31 PM ·

David - thanks for your reply, something I obviously hadn't considered.

ab

July 13, 2009 at 04:04 PM ·

In the good old days we just cut a tiny piece of rosin and ground it into dust and sparingly wiped that on the pegs. Cheap and end of slipping problem. Why buy stuff when you don't have to.

July 14, 2009 at 03:38 AM ·

>>>In the good old days we just cut a tiny piece of rosin and ground it into dust and sparingly wiped that on the pegs. Cheap and end of slipping problem. Why buy stuff when you don't have to.<<<

After about the twentieth time you've had to replace abroken peg that got stuck from rosin, one begins to get the idea that there may be better ways to go.