How to freshen a violin case?
BestStudentViolins.com
acquired some cases from an estate sale, in a little town known for
dust storms, and the cases are basically clean and bug-free, but
there's some dust and lint.
I was wondering if Febreeze (the fabric spray, not the room
deodorizer) would be appropriate?
TIA
in...@liuteriacorazzol.it
Hello,
recently I was successful in cleaning a violin case with a carpet/
fabric cleaner.
The one I used is made by Nuncas Italy (http://151.3.113.20/nuncas/
nuncas_finale/home_england/home.htm) but I think there are many
similar products everywhere.
This product was effective in removing some mould also (the case had
taken some moisture from a near wall during this winter)
After letting it dry again, I think that a good vacuum cleaner will do
the rest.
I have used Febreze sometimes, but I think that a cleaner would be
more appropriate in this ...case.
Regards,
Giovanni
Rob Lindauer
then vacuuming them out before putting them away again?
--
Rob Lindauer - Please change "att" to "sbc" for my real email address
Jon Teske
Air out in direct sunlight (same cure for rosin bugs)
Jon
Carl Witthoft
Jon Teske <jdt...@verizon.net> wrote:
But not for a plastic case! :-( Just a warning, as some cheaper
plastic cases may not take kindly to that much photonic absorption.
--
Team EM to the rescue! http://www.team-em.com
Jon Teske
wrote:
Possibly so, but I'm not really familiar with low end cases such as
with student outfits.
My case is fiberglass with a gelcoat exterior...the same stuff that
they make boats out of including the two I had (until recently...one
sank, the other I donated to the Sea Scouts). Boats are out in the
elements 24/7/365 in many cases. Mine were not even covered.
It is true that eventually (25 years) the gelcoat will deteriorate. My
boats were 45 and 38 years old when I disposed of the (or mother
nature disposed of one of them...two huge oak trees fell on it and the
weight of the trees pushed it underwater...a total insurance loss.)
Even then, it is possible to refinish the boats and both of my boats
were refinished with Awlgrip...the same paint used to paint trucks and
airliners and with proper prep would go to a mirror finish.
I would think that the hinges or interior lining of most cases would
deteriorate first. That is what happened to my Bobelock case which I
had for about a dozen years. It wasn't in bad shape but the cover for
the accessories storage was about to part company with the rest of the
case. Those cases are made in the Phillipines and are wood based. My
new case is also a Bobelock, mid-200's range and is fiberglass (or
Glass Reinforced Polyester . GRP in Brit speak.) While the new one
is a nice and very sturdy case it is VERY heavy.
My viola case, bought the same time as the violin case I recently
replaced, is still in good shape but I don't play viola nearly as
often.
Jon
in...@liuteriacorazzol.it
putting a violin case out in the sun seems a good idea to me, but I
know that many plastic cases (ABS?) are black, so one should avoid
letting them become hot, if they warp, you cannot close them anymore.
I chose the spray carpet cleaning product as I said, because it makes
a lot of foam: this helps in eliminating rosin particles from the
fabric. I noticed that it dedorizes and leaves the colour more
brilliant too.
What would you suggest for cleaning the outside of hardshell cases
(fiberglass/ carbonfib.) that are more and more common especially
among cellists? These frequently get black streaks from rubber,
wheels, luggage compartments and so on.
Thank you,
Giovanni
in...@liuteriacorazzol.it
hardshell cases may be easier to clean - it's true they can be quite
heavy... here in Italy we don't use them very much. Carbonfibre cases
are popular among cellists now.
The older kinds of rigid cases, made of ABS, could be more sensitive
to sun heating in comparison to the softer ones made of semi-rigid
foam plastic.
I know of older kinds of plastics and upholstering materials that
crumble or become sticky with aging; if the violin case or cello bag
is made of such materials, I wouldn't even try cleaning them.
Probably all other, newer kinds of violin cases have a nylon/cordura
covering: for these, the carpet cleaning product is a good choice for
me, because this kind of cleaner makes a lot of foam. I have noticed
that the black fabric looks better and probably the rosin dust is more
effectively removed by the foam than by the vacuum cleaner.
If the case needs a really strong cleaning, I think one could remove
the exterior covering (this is usally fixed with flat-head screws all
around the opening) and wash it separately.
in...@liuteriacorazzol.it
I think that putting the violin cases in the sunlight can be good, but
I am also thinking that older kinds of rigid violin cases (ABS) could
warp in strong sun, and they are black usually...
This kind of violin case is not so common here in Italy now, and I
think most newer student bags are semi-rigid plastic foam with a nylon
fabric covering.
The professional cases have a wooden structure, but both can have
their covering removed if it's just fixed with flat-head screws all
around the zip opening.
So one could have just the outside washed - in a laundry or at home. I
have chosen the carpet cleaning product for this reason: this one
makes a lot of foam, so it's easier for me to remove the rosin
particles and the (possible) beetle eggs, hair, cigarette smoke and so
on, than with a vacuum cleaner only.
I have also noticed that the foam makes black fabric look better.
And what about the outside of the modern fiberglass or carbonfibre
shells? apart from cleaning them with a damp rag, can they be renewed/
polished safely?
Jon Teske
wrote:
There are many fiberglass cleaning products on the market serving both
the plumbing industry and the boating industry. There is a product
called FSR (fiberglass stain remover] which boaters use to get black
marks off of white boats from when the run into tar covered pier
pilings, old tires used a bumpers on piers etc.
Actually renewing the gelcoat which is deteriorated badly is a bit
tricky and quite labor intensive for polishing, but it can be done.
The standard treatment for boats (and I'm VERY experienced at this) is
to lightly sand the gelcoat, apply a primer (usually proprietary) and
then roll and tip the paint. The rolling and tipping is done with foam
rollers and foam brushes. Google "Interlux Paints" and their website
has a free video on how to do this. I've done it on three boats. It
could also be spray painted at a boat yard, but because of the spray
solvents, that must be done by a professional as the thinner when
atomized could be fatal. I don't think I've ever seen a cello or
violin case that required that drastic of a treatment. An afternoon
of sitting in the sun to kill some "rosin bugs" or air out the
interior won't make a difference. FB boats have to sit in the elements
for 20 years (with annual waxing) before any deterioration is noted. I
suspect cello cases are made pretty much the same way. Colored gelcoat
is sprayed into a female mold and then the fiberglass is laid on the
wet gelcoat and impregnated with polyester resin. Carbon fiber is done
pretty much the same way but they use epoxy instead (at least on
boats). Only super expensive racing boats are made with CF...it is
very expensive. Some newer processes also use a vacuum bag technique
to use less resin and provide more strength.
Most of my cellist friends just put some stickers on their cases to
cover scuffs and dings.
For ordinary maintenance of fiberglass, just a wax and buffing.
A fiberglass fiddle or cello case is really no different from a
boat...just a lot smaller :-).
Jon Teske, violinist
in...@liuteriacorazzol.it
wait for the message to appear in the list.
Giovanni
BestStudentViolins.com
I'd be afraid of bird droppings around here. Cases don't smell bad,
just dusty. I used a cat hair contraption (you know those round
things that have a roll of sticky paper on them?), but that didn't
really freshen it up much.
Mitch Dickson
ROTFLMAO! Febreeze huh? I would have no idea what the chemicals would do
to varnish, over time. I think not :)
I just vacuum them out and let it go. Fiddle players haven't grown quite so
particular as violinists I guess. Most of us keep moth balls in the case
upper pocket. LOL! while your fiddle may smell like mothballs, it does stop
the mites from cutting the hair in your bow! (a fact that causes more rehair
jobs than playing wear on the hair). The things are microscopic, you can't
see 'em with the naked eye but they do like to chew on the hair.
I would be careful with fabreeze though. It may cause no harm but I would
find out first! I would be more prone to sitting the case out in the sun,
open, on a nice spring day (without the violin of course).
Mitch
Roland Hutchinson
> I just vacuum them out and let it go. Fiddle players haven't grown quite
> so
> particular as violinists I guess. Most of us keep moth balls in the case
> upper pocket.
I have a student viola case that I'm trying to air out to get rid of the
smell of mothballs.
I'm sure there's a viola player/fiddler joke waiting to be made, but I can't
quite figure out how it goes.
> LOL! while your fiddle may smell like mothballs, it does
> stop the mites from cutting the hair in your bow! (a fact that causes more
> rehair
> jobs than playing wear on the hair). The things are microscopic, you
> can't see 'em with the naked eye but they do like to chew on the hair.
The best preventative for bow bugs is light, I am told. I doubt that it's
possible to get bow bugs if you open the case and take the bow out every day
to practice or play.
--
Roland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food.
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