This viola bow suffered a catastrophic head break, with one critical piece missing and very thin pernubucko remaining near the mortise. After carefully cleaning the break edges and aligning the one recoverable piece, the repair began. A two-part mold was cast to hold the head securely during restoration. Inside the mortise, three layers of fiber were folded and glued in different orientations to reinforce the structure from within. The missing rear portion of the head was then recreated, shaped, and the initial glue joint refined. After reshaping the interior to accept a traditional rehairing block, a new oversized tip was added to increase strength. The mortise was completed slightly undersized for added durability, and the bow was successfully rehaired.
Clean the broken edges – Remove loose fibers and prepare the surfaces for gluing.
Align the recoverable piece – Practice fitting the broken fragment to ensure precise placement.
Glue the piece – Secure the aligned fragment using appropriate adhesive.
Cast a two-part mold – To stabilize the head completely during the repair process.
Line the mortise with fiber – Insert folded fiber reinforcements to strengthen the interior walls.
Build up three layers – Each fiber layer runs a different direction and folds uniquely for added strength.
Glue each layer individually – Apply glue one layer at a time with the head held in the mold.
Remove the mold – Release the head from the two-part mold once reinforcement is complete.
Recreate missing back piece – For the absent section of the head.
Refine glue joint – Smooth the original repair area and refine the replacement piece as needed.
Reshape the mortise interior – Prepare it to accept a traditional rehairing block.
Install a new tip – Leave it slightly thick to help reinforce the weakened head.
Finish the mortise – Keep it a bit small to maximize structural integrity.
Rehair the bow – Complete the restoration with a fresh, secure rehair.
