Advice from a Shetland/NZ fiddler born 1939. He uses brazil nut to clean the surface of his fiddle and the grease is apparently good for the wood too. You could try this as Christmas approaches and bags of mixed nuts in shells come onto the market.
Any comments?
Make sure you keep it away from the strings and bow hair.
Clean with water (Damp Cloth) - all that is required if finish is in good condition.
Yes I learned this from a very learned and wise violin teacher years ago. We used a walnut. Crushed it in a cotton cloth and used the oil to clean the instrument. Beautiful thing to do but yes be very careful not to get it on the strings or bow hair
That technology comes from the age of that fiddler. Today, I’d recommend a micro-fibre cloth. Nourishment not needed 🙂
High -end violins are usually finished with an oil-based varnish, so an oil polish, brazil-nut or otherwise, would probably not do harm. However, a small bottle of Sacconi’s or Guarneri’s violin polish is safest and best. Use a small amount the size of an American or Canadian dime (ten-penny bit?) and test it on the back of the fiddle, near the chinrest clamp. A soft cloth, microfiber or chamois and buff it out.
I polish my fiddles once a year or so, and I’d say that’s plenty. And you can have the brazil-nuts with your pint.
Brasso