Re: The Red Violin WAS Re: playing outdoors

Liz D wrote:

> Or are mahogany violins and using lavender oil to clean it actually
> quite common and I'm the ignorant one?
>  
Nope.  You were quite observant in noticing that there was something 
amiss here.

I have never seen a violin made of mahogany, myself.  I suppose it would 
be possible and all, but the traditional woods are spruce and maple.

As for the lavender oil, I'm not so certain.  Since I have never used 
lavender oil, I don't know whether or not it could be safely used on a 
varnished piece of wood like a violin.  If this oil is anything like 
regular furniture polish, there likely would be no damage to the 
violin.  Since there are so many different types of varnish available to 
violin makers, it's always a good idea to try any solvents or polishes 
on a small area of the finish in a less obvious corner before proceeding 
with the whole instrument. 

Some of the best cleaning chemicals are the nastiest ones in terms of 
their carcinogenic danger to humans.  I usually work outdoors with 
these.  One chemical that works really well on dirt and grime but leaves 
a nice oil varnish alone is Xylene.  Treat this stuff with respect, 
though, and carefully read and follow the directions on the can.

Pardon the excess information, but I can easily get carried away when 
discussing anything related to my profession.  If anyone has any 
information on lavender oil, please let us know.  Maybe this could be a 
safer cleaning chemical for us luthiers to use on fragile violin finishes.

Harold