This cello has quite a story behind it and was very nearly lost in the Eaton Fire. During the fire, a group of workers noticed a house with an interior blaze, forced entry, rescued the instrument before the flames could destroy it, and were able to put out the fire as well. When it came into the shop, the cello was covered with debris from the fire, and while it initially looked like a straightforward cleaning job, closer inspection revealed heat damage along one side, including areas where the varnish had begun to bubble. What followed was a careful process of removing the debris, stabilizing the affected varnish, and gradually restoring the surface to bring the instrument back to a presentable and playable condition. Cleaning and Polishing Process- Remove loose debris: Gently brush off surface debris using a feather duster.
- Light cleaning: Wipe the surface with a lightly damp sponge to lift remaining residue.
- Gradual removal: Over the course of a few days, continue gently rubbing until the debris is fully removed.
- Level bubbled varnish: Wet sand the heat-damaged areas using 1500 and 2000 grit until the surface is smooth.
- Apply varnish coats: Brush on approximately five thin coats of varnish, sanding lightly between each coat.
- Touch up damaged areas: Mix a matching varnish and fill any remaining small holes or imperfections.
- Final leveling: Allow the touch-up areas to dry for a day, then sand lightly with 2000 grit.
- Clean and polish: Finish with a cleaning and a light French-style polish, repeating as needed to restore the surface.
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What started out looking like a simple cleaning job turned out to involve more work once heat damage along the entire left rib side, across the upper, center, and lower bouts, became clear. Because of that, only one “before” photo was taken before getting started, but the overall process shows how the surface was gradually brought back. Even on repairs that appear straightforward at first, it’s not uncommon to uncover additional issues once the work begins. |
