| Author |
Comment |
pogostick21
Registered
User
Posts: 3
(5/23/01 4:55:43
pm)
Reply
|
OK,strange
topic...any1 know how to CLEAN a cello?
This must sound really weird, but does anybody know of anything
that can be used as a type of 'polish' for my cello that won't make
it slippery and cause the bridge to keep sliding or
anything?
Thanks guys
David
|
Gablety
Registered
User
Posts: 61
(5/23/01 6:16:56
pm)
Reply
|
Yes, microfiber
glasses cloths!
I think all that you need to do is wipe it every now and then with
a cloth. I like microfiber cloth because they really pick up the
dust and make the cello look *clean*. Some people say you should do
this after every time you practice, but I would say a couple of
times a week should be enough. Also, I just use the tiny
glasses-cleaning cloths you pick up at the drugstore that I also use
on my glasses, but you can get a bigger one if you want it; in
general, these things are available everywere.
If your cello
has something goopy on it, like maple syrup, or maybe something with
eggs in it that got on wet and has dried, I don't know what do do;
I'm glad that that's never happened to my cello. Maple syrup is
delicious, things with eggs in them (quickbread, cake, pancake
batter, plain egg) are delicious, but they're almost impossible to
get off counters if they've been sitting long enough, forget about a
cello! You'd probably need to go over it again and again with a
cloth that's wet, but not so wet that it would seep through to the
cello. Ugh.
But for normal cleaning, the occasional wiping
with a microfiber cloth should probably be enough.
|
lblake
Registered User
Posts: 356
(5/23/01 9:36:28 pm)
Reply
|
you mean DRY
glasses cloths!!!!
I just wouldn't want anyone unknowing to misunderstand you to mean
the WET glasses-cleaning cloths soaked with an ALCOHOL mixture that
will strip the varnish RIGHT off of many instruments....
I
have little pieces of flannel that I use. I use it every day, pretty
much. When I stay in hotels, they often have flannels for polishing
shoes, and I keep those and just put my thumb where they put the
paint saying the Hotel's name.  I have
them all over the place.... because I do it whenever I think of
it.... plus, my dog likes to find them and steal them from many of
their hiding spots.
Actually, this isn't a very wierd topic at all. It's been
quite heavily discussed, in fact. Most people will warn strongly
against using any kind of polish. If you really have a problem with
dirt or rosin build-up, or smudges you can't seem to polish off with
a dry cloth, then take it into your luthier and they can probably
shine it right up for you for very little charge. (If I'm having
anything else done, they always do this anyway, w/o charge).
Varnishes are sometimes very mysterious things, so you
really have to be careful when using polishes. I've seen at least
one cello with its finish completely destroyed, apparently from a
woefully harmful attempt at polishing.(looked like a finger-painting
done with left-on car wax!!!)
| |
Internet Cello Society
Forums
Email
This To a Friend
Topic Commands (Moderator only)