Daily String Cleaning
Is it a good idea to wipe strings off with fine steel wool or with a simple cotton/microfiber cloth?
Replies (15)
Scrubbies ( http://cgi.ebay.com/Scrubbies-Scrubbie-Scrubby-Nylon-sz-3-5-lot-of-10-only_W0QQitemZ180326597784QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item29fc4d8498&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 ) are an alternative to the steel wool idea. The do not compete with the material strength of the steel (or other metal) windings, but are more abrasive against the rosin than the other materials mentioned.
I use a combination of the scrubbies, microfiber cloth, and pure cotton cloth depending on what I am dealing with on the strings - and occasional alcohol - seems to work. I've found it safer to use the alcohol-saturated pads sold by drug stores in boxes of 100 sealed pads - not danger of dripping on the finish.
Andy
Here we go again.
If you use fine steel wool, you'll be wiping the strings off, but probably not in the way you intended. :-0 Keeping the strings from being caked with rosin is a good idea: no special cloth needed. Just don't try to do this while you're playing. :-)
I think cleaning the strings even once a week is over doing it.
While caked on rosin might hinder the sound a tad, a slippery un-rosined string provides no "bite" for the bow to hold its place.
=) Don't ever use steel wool.
I like the idea of using the alcohol pads they sell at pharmacies - but do those pads contain any oils? I know that they put mineral oils inside rubbing alcohols, and that makes them impossible to use for violin purposes. Any thoughts?
STEEL WOOL???????????????????
Sam, please don't damage your innocent (I hope) keyboard. The guy that brings steel wool into the discussion also asked the values of acetone and magic bracelets. Seems he wants to be the inofficial forum joker.
I'm still waiting for a topic like "is baby hair shampoo good for cleaning the bow hair".
40 grit sand paper? OK, ok... 20 grit!
When everyone has quite finished mocking the original poster, they may wish to note that the use of 0000 steel wool to clean strings was recommended by the esteemed luthier Paul Becker in a recent interview as part of a Rachel Barton Pine podcast.
How and when should 0000 steel wool be used? Let us say that there is a place for using it. What's the protocol?
And Sean, no harm meant, just a little fun. If I offended you I do apologize, if anyone has a question noone should be punished for asking......
Royce
If 0000 steel wool is used, I don't think it should be used very often. It is much harder than most string windings, and will abrade them. Eventually, this results in a false string.
The other possible issue is that regular steel wool has a light coating of oil to keep it from rusting. Some of this will be transferred to the string. Short term: The string will be slick under the bow until some rosin accumulates. Long term: Some of this oil will be transferred to the hair
I would buy my strings from David, not from Paul Becker.
Quote:
"I would buy my strings from David, not from Paul Becker."
_______________
In defense of Paul Becker:
Interviews take funny twists and turns, and emphasis doesn't always end up where you would like. I've used steel wool to remove tarnish from silver strings. It also removes rosin well. I'm just questioning its regular use.
Paul has taught twice at the VSA/Oberlin College workshops I direct. He's a super high-integrity guy, and a very smart man. On one of those teaching occasions, he arrived on time, even though the chimney on his house had been destroyed by lightning the day before.
If anyone should be fed up with BS in the violin business, the Carl Becker shop in Chicago is one refuge.
Should Paul and I disagree on something, we'd probably both just shrug. :-)
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September 7, 2009 at 09:46 PM ·
No steel wool - you will damage wound strings. For daily cleaning of synthetic and e strings take a fine microfibre fabric and 70% (optimal antibacterial concentration) ethanol from a pharmacy (only strings, fingerboard and chin rest, be careful not to touch the varnished parts - for these you could take a clean part of your dog - no, poor dog - take a separate dry microfibre cloth not getting in daily contact with the rosin on the strings). According to Pirastro (who offer an awfully smelling string cleaning solution) 70% ethanol is also okay for wound gut strings, however in this case I would take a dry microfibre cloth for everyday cleaning and additional ethanol only if necessary.