Thomas Coleman

This is an old adage that has been bandied about for a long time. You can find references to it it all over the internet and in many woodworking books. Usually with the caveat of "This is just a general rule and starting point".

If I understand you correctly.....there is a device on the market called ToneRite that might be what you are looking for. I've never used one so can't speak to it's efficacy.

Me too. It has his fathers label in it and I like to imagine him cursing under his breath at his dad "mfpm frickin' frackin' stupid cello"

Haha! I haven't been called Tomaso since I lived in Italy! It was nice "hearing" it. All photo credits go to W. Whedbee. I believe it's willow. I have a bad habit of over exaggerating for emphasis. I concede that a scraper may have touched the instrument, but wow! Those toolmarks! Obviously a different clientele than the King cello!

I thought one or two of you might find these interesting. The photo quality is not great but they give a good idea of what this cello looks like. A knowledgeable friend doubts that a scraper touched any part and I'm inclined to agree!

Behlen sold it's line to Mohawk. I believe this is their Qualasole. You may have to delve a little further https://www.westlunddistributing.com/mohawk-lac-french-padding-finish-light-amber-1-quart.html?___store=westlundmain&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgNXtBRC6ARIsAIPP7Rsoh61oNf7KdgiQXt51s1mLDevvbKPJMxHZuRnWDmMe-1Cm3pNiPOoaAjp4EALw_wcB

Here's a link to a set. At the store they sell them individually. https://www.dickblick.com/products/caran-dache-neocolor-ii-artists-crayons/

I use a redbrown water color crayon. I get them individually from Blick but I couldn't find a link. I get them at the brick and mortar Blick not too far from my house. Washes off very easily and the consistency is perfect.

Nice! Love seeing your work.

I hone my scrapers at about 45 degrees or so. I use tempered spring steel, available from MSC although I'm certain any of the big industrial supply houses will carry it. I mostly use .5mm and .3mm thickness although I do have one slightly thinner (2.8mm?) finishing scraper. They work well. I use an aluminum block cut at a 45 degree angle as a honing guide. Scrapers are a huge PITA but nothing else does the job they do. I use sandpaper as little as possible, just on the very edges to eliminate tool facets.

Thanks for the kind words Ken. A neck spline and rod will go a long way to preventing a change in the neck projection like you experienced on the instruments you recently posted about. Do you bevel your scrapers? I agree that they're interesting ideas. Neither of them mine. I am totally sold on both. Melvin Goldsmith and Whedbee are inspirations for the spline and Matt Noykos ,Joe Grubaugh and Will where helpful with advice about the rod. Although the evidence is only anecdotal, myself and others have noticed tonal improvements.

Viola. Heel splines and carbon fiber neck reinforcement.

You can only pull the neck back so much. Eventually you'll run out of edge margin. If you don't have enough edge margin a neck reset may be in order.

That's interesting and makes a lot of sense. Just move an instrument back and forth between a humid environment and a dry environment?

Just curious, why not still alive?