How difficult is it to refinish a violin?

Answer by  CarolynOsborne (2804)

Don't do it!! If you have an older instrument and you refinish it, you will ruin the value of it. If you have a newer student-quality instrument and you want to paint it a fun color, that's fine. Strip the old varnish off and have at it. But PLEASE don't refinish an old instrument.

Answer by  jfresh313 (18)

You'll need to prep the wood first by stripping the old lacquer and sanding smooth. Once you have it prepped you can spray on the clear coat then polish.

Answer by  Leonard (33)

Sprays and kits are available at music and hardware stores, making it easy to refinish a guitar. Just spray and wait. All you need is time and patience. However, sometimes the spray is not fully distributed, and blots appear. A professional can do it effectively, but for the right price.

Answer by  Vespertine (51)

Like most self-improvement projects, you could do it yourself, but it's probably not the greatest idea. Think about this too: Would you be able to restring the violin properly? That would also be a major issue.