I have a music student whose violin pegs are stuck. I've never seen this problem before. What should I do?

Forrester "Mac" McNeil

Pegs frequently get stuck or sticky in the humid summer months, when the humidity gets in the peg itself and expands it slightly, thereby making the surface uneven and causing it to stick inside the peghole. A simple application of peg dope or black crayon usually does the trick.

In the winter, when it is dry, the pegs tend to slip, and chalk or rosin is the solution.

Carina

My problem was a little more severe, and the pegs had to be shaved. The swelling in the holes had made them a bit uneven, causing them to stick more. Shaving pegs would not be a do-it-yourself job. I believe it cost about $20 and took maybe 15 minutes to fix by a qualified luthier. I haven't had any serious trouble since.

Miami Man