Building a Violin - The Back

This page shows the steps in making the back.

What I don't show is joining the back plate.  You can get an idea of that looking at my guitar page for the back.

Before the back shaping begin, one traces the outline of the ribs onto the back, so it will match the ribs.

Then you cut the "ledge" around the outside of the outer surface of the back.  This is slightly thicker than the final roll edge.

First arch cuts -- gouged to match arch forms	First half arched with the gouge	Back, arched with the gouge
Back, arched and smoothed with the toothed plane	Final arching (scraper)	Next you drill the inside of the back to define the rough thickness for gouging
Inside the the back, hollowed with gouge, plane, and scraper	Then the purfling channel is cut and the purfling inlaid	The back is ready