Violin Forum/Message Board

[famuswood]

After installing a new neck, I am working to match the color of a cello scroll and neck heel to the body. So far I have applied a ground and a yellow base varnish to the scroll and heel. I intend to match the various colors I see in the cello body to the neck with artist colors and a little blo, starting with the lighter to the darker colors. Should I add the colors on top of each other or clear coat varnish between them - or neither of the above? Any advice would gratefully be appreciated.
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I love the feel of wood in my hands - the smell of fresh cut lumber and the challenge of a difficult woodworking project on a sunny day . . .

[Michael Darnton]

The colors should be in varnish (not just color alone--you didn't mention varnish with color, so I'm making sure you understand that), and if you're confident about your color matching, just build until you have the right thing, then cover it with a few coats of clear.

As far as how you build, it sounds like you have the right idea: start with the ground color and add each layer above, so that each point in the process resembles some spot on the instrument which has worn a bit lighter than final and reveals that particular color at that particular point of darkness.
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[famuswood]

Thanks, Michael. Much appreciated.
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I love the feel of wood in my hands - the smell of fresh cut lumber and the challenge of a difficult woodworking project on a sunny day . . .

[famuswood]

Here is the final color match. I know it isn't perfect by any stretch but I think it's fairly close. I think I have a good solid glue joint with a good fit on the button graft. Wittners went in easily. Thanks again for the help.

https://picasaweb.google.com/chumn54/GregSFinishedCello?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP_Fzv74lbvyhAE&feat=directlink
_________________
I love the feel of wood in my hands - the smell of fresh cut lumber and the challenge of a difficult woodworking project on a sunny day . . .