A reliable method for rejoining blocks split for a restoraion, paricularly useful for cello repairs

BY JAMES THORNTON

Luthier based in north-eastern Wisconsin, US

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The following repair gives a method for regluing corner-blocks after they have been split for a restoration. his procedure gives the restorer a certain conidence, prevents gnashing of teeth, and shoots you into the inal phase of the repair: top-on, neckset and so forth. In the past, with split violin corner-blocks, after applying the glue I would hand-hold the joined rib for four or ive minutes and then gently set it aside. Cello blocks are an entirely diferent thing – much too large to glue by hand – and so I needed to ind a solution to rejoin them reliably.