Well I have finally done it! I have made the mold, form, jig…whatever you want to call it to make fiddles. The process took a decent amount of time but it was worth it.

First I found a piece of 2×12 and I plained it down to 1 1/4″ so that the height was the same as the ribs of the fiddle. I then made the marks on the board with the template I made (from the fiddle I took apart previously you can see that here) Then I tediously cut (very slowly) around the lines. Even though I cut slow I still made some mistakes but I think they are insignificant to the final products quality.

Here is the finished product. I think it will work really well.

I patterned this Jig after Violet Hensley’s Method of fiddle making. She is now 90 years old and is still making fiddles the way her father taught her.

Here is a small pamphlet she gave me when I was talking to her about fiddle making the first time. Now she has given me so many tips I do believe I can make my own now.

Click on the image to see it larger.

She now has an exhibit down at Silver Dollar City and is a favorite there for her simultaneous fiddlin’ , dancin’ and trick fiddlin’ (fiddlin’ over her head while dancin’).

Well thats it. I have a few more tools to acquire (or make) and I am ready to start making fiddles.