Callier-Scollard Violins
Craig Scollard

50 E. Green St. Suite 142
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 795-2870

Mon, Tue, Wed 10:00-1:00.
Thu, Fri, Sat 2:00 to 5:00

Intercom Access Code, Press:
142 and then the CALL button:

Student Cello Rib Repair: Step-by-Step Plywood Fix

 

This student cello had a significant issue—a large hole in its plywood rib, with fractures spreading through its thin maple veneer. Given the instrument’s value, disassembling it for repair wasn’t practical.

Instead, I developed a simple yet effective solution. By creating both an inside and an outside mold, I was able to pull the fractured plywood back together. Using four small holes and strong string, I tightened the molds, sandwiching the broken wood securely in place.

Below, you'll find a series of photos showing the step-by-step process. Unfortunately, the final image is missing, but the end result was certainly an improvement over a gaping hole in the rib! 


Here are the general steps.

  1. Glue the cracks that radiate out from the hole.
  2. Create the outer mold and the inner mold. The inner mold has a little more curve which applies pressure to the broken pieces.
  3. Drill 4 small holes that line up with both the inner and outer molds.
  4. Place the outside mold on the rib and drill through the rib.
  5. Feed all of the string through the outer mold, the rib holes and the inner mold holes.
  6. It ends up having two string that sinch the inner mold, the broken rib parts to the outer mold together.
  7. Glue and clamp. 
  8. Remove the molds. The outside mold just comes off, the inner mold has another string so I can pull it off of the inside of the rib.
  9. Glue the very thin maple vanier back onto the plywood rib.
  10. Fill a little bit of the missing chards and use small dowles to fill the 4 holes.
  11. Touchup the varnish a little. 
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IMG 20241211 124308 711

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IMG 20241223 091551 778

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