Abrasives in Violin Making
In violin making, powdered abrasives are essential for carefully preparing the wood and perfectly smoothing the varnish surfaces. Pumice powder is a natural, porous abrasive especially suited for fine sanding, gently leveling unevenness without leaving scratches. Tripel, a fine abrasive powder, is mainly used after varnishing to remove minor imperfections and give the surface a velvety shine. Bolus, a clay powder, serves as an abrasive and polishing agent. Wiener Kalk is a fine abrasive and polishing powder used for the final fine sanding before polishing, ensuring a flawless surface. Also, Horsetail powder, a very fine abrasive and polishing powder derived from the traditional horsetail plant, is used in violin making to gently smooth varnish surfaces.
