Two Cherries Tools

The shape of the back has been refined and smoothed and is now ready for the next step, hollowing out and graduating the thickness.  I chose to do the carving and shaping using hand tools only.  It took a long time but I felt more comfortable approaching the final shape slowly.  I sensed that there was no way to add wood back if I accidentally removed too much!

The photo to the right shows this process nearly completed.  As I approached the final thicknesses the back was held by the fingers of one hand and tapped with the other to test the tap tones.  It now has a clear sound, neither a dead thud or ringing, metallic sound.
I promised Rachel that her cello would be done by the time she entered High School.  The deadline rapidly approaches!