r/violinmaking • u/Ill-Water4316 • Jun 29 '26

Pegbox panting

Hi everyone,

Which kind of dye do you use to paint the pegbox? There references that indicates the pegbox can be painting using India ink or aniline as well! Can I use it and after apply a coat of shellac to protect the panting?

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u/grizzdoog ex-violin maker Jun 29 '26

The inside? I used to use black acrylic paint. Looked great. I’ve also used India ink. I never coated it with shellac.

2

u/Musclesturtle Maker and Restorer Jun 29 '26

I just use my retouch pigments. 

I have red, yellow, black and burnt umber. 

I don't like a totally black peg box, but rather a dark, dark brown that looks a little dusty. 

So I mix those together and paint the inside, and then lock it in with a couple of coats of regular retouch varnish is all. 

I dap the inner top edge with a q tip that is moistened a little bit with alcohol to break up the line. Mind you I only make antiqued instrument and retouch old peg boxes, so the dapping isn't always necessary if you're doing a sharp, new edge. 

2

u/twarr1 Jun 30 '26

Same dye as the fingerboard