Kathryn Harada, graduate intern in the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Paintings Conservation Studio, mechanically scraps the bulk of the wax from the surface of the panel using a scalpel, holding it almost parallel to the panel to prevent damaging the surface of the wood. Although the wax is relatively soft, this process quickly dulls the scalpel blades, and they need to be replaced with surprising frequency. It takes 25 blades and approximately 19 hours to complete this step.