Our violin bow making process

The bow blanks stay long enough on the shelf in the drying room, till they get very well seasoned. This step is very important and the stiffness(strength) of the bow stick is much more connected with moisture than you might think.


After heating a stick in flame heat source (about 15cm is heated at a time). The bow stick is heated very slowly. Till the heat penetrate to the core, and the wood is heated close to the scorching temperature. Bend the stick as the temputure is ok. While the stick cools down, it will hold the camber. Be very carful with the whole process, as it's not good to get the stick over bent or get twisted.

Milling the mortice in the stick for the place of adjusting screw. We normally use a precise milling machine to do it, and some times use chisel for full hand-made bows.

Drilling the hole (nipple) at the frog end of the bow stick is done after the mortice for the adjusting screw has been bored.

Chiseling the hole in the bow stick tip for the plug and fixing of hair. 

Refining the bow tip.

Above is the process of doing pre-assembling of the total bow to make sure that everything fit well.

Varnishing the bows, it's not that easy as it looks. 


Take a look as what are the frogs like as ebony blocks.

Chiseling and filing the ebony frog.

Above is a sample of what you can expect for a finished frog.

The ebony is hold in the chuck, as the cutter is moved into it. Turning the ebony down to the diameter of a button (screw). 

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