Plugging and moving End Button

ayer

I want to realign the end button on a violin with an ebony insert at the rib joint.  Would it be OK to just glue in an ebony end button to plug the hole?  Having never repositioned an end button, are there any glaring do's and dont's?

fiby

The big question is- Is the existing pin in alignment with the center of the fingerboard? I think that if you were to move the endpin 4mm off the center of the FB, you might have problems. As for gluing in an ebony plug- It might cause a problem when redrilling the hole. If the new hole were to intersect the ebony plug, it might cause the drill to vere into the softer spruce/willow end block. Just my gut thoughts on this. I think a spruce plug eith an ebony top cap might be better.

mamaya

Yeah, check and see if the rib joint is centered to the bridge before you move it over.

chin

I would plug it with the same material that you would use for an end grain bushing in a peg hole. Boxwood or maple would be fine. (I like to use yellow heart for my bushing stock.) Even though you need to move it 4 mmm, by the time you are done not very much of the bushing will be visible so it doesn't matter that much.