Observing A Bow Rehair

Ever wondered how a bow is rehaired? Check out this video to find out! This video is only for educational use for clients curious about the process and it is not meant to be a step-by-step tutorial for someone trying to learn how to rehair a bow.
For more information, please call:
913-677-0400
Or visit:
www.kcstrings.com

[@LillithLeonard]

Fascinating. Now I know why they charge what they do :)

[@marklozano8388]

after watching this, I believe I will pay to have my bow done

[@KCStrings]

That's one reason we wanted to share it :) It's easy to underestimate all of the work that goes into rehairing a bow!!!

[@jasonwells3772]

Agreed.

[@a01057671365]

Thank you for sharing rehairing. I have questions. How many strand do you use for violin, viola and chello.

[@KCStrings]

We don't count strands. We have gauges that we use. But generally there are about 150 hairs for a violin bow. 180 for a cello. 220 for a bass. Fun question, thanks for asking!

[@johnmeyer77]

I'm in the middle of doing this. You show the steps, but you keep missing all the key things I need to know, such as how to decide where to cut the hair, how the pre-fit of the plug should look, and lots more.

[@KCStrings]

Hi, John! As mentioned in the description for this video, it is just an "observational" video for educational uses for our clients and those curious how a bow rehair is done. It is not meant to be a tutorial video or, of course, it would need A LOT more detail and made a completely different way.

[@johnmeyer77]

@@KCStrings OK. It still helped a little and, by looking at several other videos, I got the job done and, I think, did a pretty good job, with all the hairs at the same tension, and with the hair cut at just about the right length.

[@KCStrings]

@@johnmeyer77 That's great to hear you were able to still do it!!! I keep telling our luthier he needs to start making tutorial videos---it seems like there is a need out there!

[@johnmeyer77]

@@KCStrings Thanks! I didn't mean to be so negative in my first post. Your video is quite well done and did help me. I simply was frustrated when I realized that I didn't have pieces of information I needed. As another example, some of the other videos showed wetting or soaking the hair. I wasn't going to do this, but found that I was not able to get the all the strands to be of equal length and tension, even after lots of combing, without wetting the hair. I'd say that half the videos showed it done with wet hair, and half showed it done with dry hair, as yours does. I rosined it today and it plays, but since I'm a guitar player and have never attempted to play a violin, I'll have to wait until my daughter comes to visit to find out if it feels right to her.

[@WongPrince-h8d]

May i know the small pieces of wood is what kind? Is maple or pruce wood?

[@KCStrings]

Maple. Thanks for the question!

[@Nomadboatbuilding]

That final shortening over the flame, is that shrinking up the hair in addition to burning off frayed ends?

[@KCStrings]

It is just to shrink the loose hairs a bit. Thanks for asking!

[@edgarmilson8686]

Why do you not explain what you are doing? I have never seen this done before, you put something on your fingers at the start, what was it? You did some filing, what to and why?

[@hiey24]

thank you, but how did you fix the thread?

[@KCStrings]

The thread is tied and then a thin bead of superglue is put around the thread to fix it in place. Thanks for asking, hope that helps!

[@ValerieDegnan]

What kind of wood do you use to make the wedges?

[@patrickclark223]

Not the person in the video, but I've seen my luthier friends use maple, willow, and basswood

[@bringstring6090]

Well this looks easy... NOT ...lol!

[@KCStrings]

Right?! :)

[@Aguswann]

I have to change the hair of my beginner Chinese bow, I got very cheap hair by 2usd probably synthetic. thanks to this video I will be able to change it, when I have more practice I will buy a better arc Regards

[@KCStrings]

Awesome, good luck! :)

[@isevenjohnson7050]

What composition and ensemble is playing in the video entry and exit? Very enjoyable!

[@KCStrings]

Thank you! It's the Russian Bass Quartet playing Chaconne, 1st movement.

[@aleksandargrunchevski1806]

Can i use cedar wood or just maple?

[@KCStrings]

Maple wood is best. Thanks for asking!

[@MusicalJeanAz]

Nice video. Picked up a few tips to make it a bit easier when rehair a bow. Thanks!

[@sleeplezzzz3815]

1:44 is that red bow hair

[@KCStrings]

Yes, that is dyed red hair! Sometimes teenagers like red hair on their second bows. So we have a hank of it ready to use.

[@leemysliwiec2803]

..." measure and cut the hair".. Ok How does one exactly get the right measurement? .

[@KCStrings]

We use our own custom gauges that we made to measure out the exact amount of hair we want to use. Thanks for the question!

[@iomoonshack]

what kind of wood is for the edges?

[@KCStrings]

Maple is used for plugs and wedges. Thanks for asking!

[@saberanouar]

❤

[@inkey2]

One small drop of "super glue" for "wood" on each end of the tied off hair and there is "ZERO" chance that the hair will ever pull out from either tied end. I used to use rosin but the "wood" super glue is amazing. Just make sure it is the super glue specifically for "wood". The regular super glue will not work on this type application.

[@chumn54]

the scary thing about superglue is that it can wick out past the knot and gum up the hair if you get too much on.

[@meisenman]

A more viscous grade of superglue-5-10 seconds-will help prevent that. I also squeeze the tied end of the hair with smooth pliers to keep the superglue from wicking any farther.

[@inkey2]

@@chumn54 I have never had that problem as I only use the smallest touch of wood super glue.

[@stefaneduard8169]

Wot, and how am i, a simple guy, going to do all of these with no tools and enough knowledge..? I don't even know someone that could do this for me... :((

[@jasonlovi8745]

Stefan Edward find a local luthier. Some places have a send in service where you ship them your bow if you don’t have one local

[@gerryandlizkeogh1817]

It's always nice to see a craftsman doing his specialist job but I'm a bit disappointed with this video. I'm hoping to do this job myself shortly for the first time, and it did not give me much in the way of information or encouragement. There was little by way of explanation in exactly how to measure the hair accurately or how to measure the wedges or what is required on the underside of the wedges, and not a mention of the materials used. I have read the previous comments and replies which cover some of these matters.

[@KCStrings]

Thank you for the comment, Gerry! We did not set out to make a complete instructional video on bow rehairing. That would be a much longer and a much different type of video. This short video was made for the string player who has an interest to see a general overview of how a bow rehair is done at our shop.

[@gerryandlizkeogh1817]

@@KCStrings Thank you for getting back to me, I did appreciate the video and wish you all the best! Gerry

[@Pathfinder8]

"First we'll disassemble the bow"... zip zip zip zip clip snip remove.... What did he just do there anyway? Seriously?

[@KCStrings]

Hi! This video was just made just to be a very short video for our clients---it isn't meant to be an instructional video with every step. If you do have a specific question, let us know!

[@chrisgrow22]

another bozo forgets to show how to determine length. the most important part.

[@TippyPuddles]

The title of the video is "Observing A Bow Rehair". Another bozo doesn't know how to observe.

[@Nomadboatbuilding]

Much more involved than I expected. What is the substance you are dipping the hair ends in? Powdered rosin?

[@KCStrings]

It is quite a process! Yes, it is powdered rosin. Thanks for asking!

[@hydorah]

I was going to ask the same question!

[@TippyPuddles]

I'm a visual person, so this video was a gem for me. I have some woodworking tools from a vocational college I attended for cabinet making. I've got the tools and I'm going to give this a try. Thank you.

[@KCStrings]

I hope it helps! It isn't necessarily meant to be a complete tutorial but does give a good idea of the process.

[@littlebuddytoo]

Beaut mate! Local luthier asks 150.00 for this job. This appears to be quite an easy repair, I don't take for granted your years of professional expertise but I have built a mandolin (from a kit) which finished quite nicely, sounds super, and done other simple repairs. Your vid gives me what I need to know to re-hair my grandfather's 118 y/o bow and neighbor's bow without much trial and error. Much obliged for sharing your knowledge. Just one further question, about how many strands of hair are generally used for a violin bow? Thank you.

[@KCStrings]

Sounds like you must be a natural craftsmen! We charge around $50 for a violin bow rehair. The video is cut down to 11 minutes but it takes longer to do. Good luck, we hope it goes well doing your own bows!

[@allanapel123]

@@KCStrings just got a price here in Germany for EUR80 for a violin bow rehair which initially seemed acceptable given the work involved and infrequency of this kind of job. I'll check reviews of course. Thanks so much for sharing your craft, great insight on something we take for granted.

[@robertadcock8011]

Excellent question when I was going to ask myself!

[@ozgundemirr]

I like how you put in the wedge, very clever.

[@KCStrings]

Thanks! I will pass your comment on to Phil (our repairman in this video).

[@dannyjames2982]

What kind of comb works best for regular maintenance of the bow hair?

[@KCStrings]

Once the bow rehair is done it does not need to be combed. But if you want to comb it after some time to remove excess rosin then just a standard small plastic comb will work. Thanks for asking!

[@janiracarillo8494]

Em português por favor mandar. Gratidão por tudo Deus te abençoe

[@willieboy8798]

i dont think i will try this at all ...i will donate my old bow to a school to finish off first!

[@moiseshernandez1553]

This is a case where being laconic does not help.

[@9mmhobbes]

LMFAO

[@9mmhobbes]

luthiers aren't know for being personable. I've never met one who was a talkitive guy, in all my days of touring.

[@imapaine-diaz4451]

Indeed! I too am a craftsman who usually works alone, and my work is very detailed with many steps which need to be taken in order. inattention would have consequences. sometimes very costly in time & money. Trying to carry on a conversation while working is very distracting, and I never never try to work and do this at the same time. I always put down the job and talk when someone comes into my shop. If I have an important commission to get out, I lock the door with a sign to leave a message or come back later. Or better yet, My wife handles business of the casual walkins, and makes an appointment for them to see me. Consider yourselves fortunate that the man consents to show his skills at all.

[@littlebuddytoo]

@@9mmhobbes That's because working with wooden instruments is a 'zen' experience. No good use comes out of chatting on this job.

[@chrispaul6290]

I agree. A word or two here and there would have made this a useful video. Like, Where on the tip do you use as the guide where to cut the hair to the right length? Why only rinse and not wash and rinse the hair, as others say is necessary? Why not install the tip first, then the frog, in case the hair is too long and has to be shortened and re-inserted. Cranky, ain't I?

[@widisakti1199]

Terima kasih, tayangan ini sangat membantu & bermanfaat.

[@楊漾-g7h]

Thank you very much

[@brianchulito]

Hi, did I see you dipping the frog wedge into a small jar of powdered rosin first? If so it's good idea . . . helps to secure the wedge.

[@KCStrings]

Yes, that was powdered rosin!

[@mitchellbarker9368]

I have watched several other videos on rehairing bows, and I've not seen anyone else heat the hair at the end the way you did. It seems like it would damage the hair, even if you didn't burn it, and maybe make it more brittle. Do you not agree, or do you think it is a minimal degree of damage that will not greatly affect the life of the hair? Are you applying heat to all the hair? Would a heat gun work for this? Have you discussed with other luthiers, who do not use this technique, what the pros and cons might be?

[@KCStrings]

The hair is passed very quickly over the tip of the flame. So we are not heating the hair. The hair stays the same temperature. All the tip of the flame does is shorten any hairs that may be slightly looser. It's a common technique that we sometimes use at the end of a bow rehair. Thank you for asking and clarifying!

[@nickfaiella9164]

If you leave the hair to dry naturally under slight bow tension, those hairs will shorten themselves automatically. Running the hair over a flame is a dangerous and pointless step that people have been doing for years with no verifiable result..

[@congero113]

Can you reuse the old wedges?

[@KCStrings]

Very rarely. Most of the time we need to make new plugs. Thanks for asking!

[@musicforgospelmariadasthur1785]

Very good work

[@KCStrings]

Thank you!