My pegs slip sometimes and it takes a lot of force to push them in when tuning. The builder, Robert Browder, says to use chalk to prevent slippage. Any other suggestions?
14 Comments |
 | SoundsGoodToMe says:
9/10/2012 7:47:48 PM
Chalk works, but it can also make the pegs very difficult to turn. Violin shops sell a gunk called peg dope that adds a bit of friction to wooden pegs.
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 | JanetB says:
9/10/2012 8:36:24 PM
Thanks, though I have a feeling they're plastic. Would it work on that?
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| SoundsGoodToMe says:
9/10/2012 8:48:16 PM
Hmmm, I honestly don't know because I've never used it on plastic, but I kind of doubt it. Is the surface of the plastic textured or smooth? If it's smooth, I don't think peg dope would get much purchase on it.
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| JanetB says:
9/10/2012 8:52:09 PM
Smooth. Chalk doesn't make it difficult to turn the pegs, but to get the chalk on I need to slide the peg out, which is also difficult because the nylon strings are tied on at present.
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| SoundsGoodToMe says:
9/10/2012 9:10:29 PM
Hmmm, I honestly don't know because I've never used it on plastic, but I kind of doubt it. Is the surface of the plastic textured or smooth? If it's smooth, I don't think peg dope would get much purchase on it.
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| SoundsGoodToMe says:
9/10/2012 9:18:31 PM
Apologies for the double post. You would have to pull the pegs either way, peg dope would also have to be applied to the surface of the peg that contacts the sides of the peg hole. The only alternative I can think of would be to slighly roughen the peg contact surface with fine sandpaper, but the plastic might just wear smooth again from turning against the inside of the hole.
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| JanetB says:
9/11/2012 6:16:30 AM
I'll suggest the sandpaper solution to Robert, a Hangout member, and see what he thinks. Thanks again.
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| JanetB says:
9/11/2012 2:29:16 PM
I heard from Robert today. The pegs are ebony wood and peg-dope would work. He compares that to using chalk for slippage.
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 | Castania says:
10/18/2012 9:47:06 AM
I wouldn't swear to this . . . but I vaguely remember a conversation with George Wunderlich in which he suggested soap -- yes, soap. I remember the conversation because the suggestion was so counter-intuitive. I think he explained why, but I've forgotten . . . then again, I may be completely wrong . . . if so, my apologies to George!
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| SoundsGoodToMe says:
10/18/2012 10:24:40 AM
Could be, I've heard soap mentioned before too. Usually it was soap for pegs that jam and chalk for pegs that slip.
The professional-grade peg dope compound has a texture about like soap mixed with chalk dust. Could well be exactly what it is, but I'm not tasting it to find out :)
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 | ChuckJo says:
10/18/2012 11:23:48 AM
Hi Janet,
I have geared pegs installed. Pegheds are good and include a short 5th peg if you need it.
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| JanetB says:
10/18/2012 5:08:46 PM
I ended up buying something for pegs made by W.E. Hill (thinking it was peg dope). But it's called "a composition for pegs which have ceased to run smoothly." Anyway, it seems to be working better and slipping less. Robert Crowder, who made my gourd banjo, has begun to use geared pegs, like Chuck's above, and says I could easily install them myself if I knew the correct size to order.
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 | flatfootjohnny says:
6/20/2013 3:31:39 PM
I use soap and it works fine. As George says, the cheaper the soap the better.
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| JanetB says:
6/20/2013 8:53:39 PM
I can try the soap then. I was just watching a video from smellyoldfatguy about violin pegs and he recommends sanding. My pegs are wood, not plastic, so sanding may work.
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