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I did the alky tube a few times, but find the coil tub method to be more compact and less hassle.
What is your opinion on using 91% isopropyl vs denatured ethanol?. I have to keep an eye on the sales at.Walmart and the drug stores to buy another bottle of 91%, I have a feeling the soak method in a saucepan or Tupperware will use almost a whole bottle, but can be reuseable. Gotta keep whats left of my bottle pure for possible medical and food utensil cleaning uses. How much does the denatured usually cost? I usually spend between $2.50-$4 for a quart of 91% iso depending on the sale.
this.
with all the materials and time spent, its cheaper for me to by new strings once every year or so.
Denatured alcohol is crazy flamable. Bad idea.
Just wipe down your strings after playing. The sad fact is nice bright strings just don't last all that long. Ever.
Just wipe down your strings after playing. The sad fact is nice bright strings just don't last all that long. Ever.
I've had great results with the PVC soak tube method. I replace the denatured alcohol in it about once a year. (Dump the old stuff out on the weeds growing in the driveway cracks.) I keep the tube out in the carport, and the screw cap keeps the fumes inside the tube. No worry about flamability.
IME, boiling strings does just about nothing. The alcohol soak, OTOH, gives me three uses out of one set of strings. And I like 'em sounding fresh.
IME, boiling strings does just about nothing. The alcohol soak, OTOH, gives me three uses out of one set of strings. And I like 'em sounding fresh.
I've been meaning to make a tube cleaner for ages but never get around to it. I just coil them up and put them in a 2ltr icecream container and pour in enough metho to cover. Usually about1.5-2 inches deep. I'll usually give the container a shake (with the lid firmly on) a couple of times over that 24 hour period to help dislodge any particulates. Don't know if it actually helps but it can't hurt.
I've haven't needed to use it for flats yet but it works wonders on the ground wounds. I picked up my Jag shorty a while back after not being used for some time and the E was strangely dead. Soaked overnight and the next day it sounded almost like new again.
Just don't smoke or have naked flames anywhere near where you do the cleaning.
The sad fact is bass strings cost upwards of $50 here in Oz and a quarter of a bottle of metho costs under $1. If it means getting another 6-12 months out of a set of ground wounds then it's worth it.
Just don't smoke or have naked flames anywhere near where you do the cleaning.
The sad fact is bass strings cost upwards of $50 here in Oz and a quarter of a bottle of metho costs under $1. If it means getting another 6-12 months out of a set of ground wounds then it's worth it.
well, give it a whirl. I only use rounds and they usually last about 3 months at most (if I'm playing a great deal).
See post #28.
I do use it and it works wonders for the ground wounds. Haven't had the need to use it with flats.
I do use it and it works wonders for the ground wounds. Haven't had the need to use it with flats.
Yeah that would be true if you only buy new strings once a year.
I like the sound of new strings way way to much to let them ride for a year though so it makes sense for me.
I do, too.
I've not suffered any ill effects from doing alcohol soaks. It's just alcohol, not some proven carcinogen. And I do use it over and over until it starts to turn brown. At that point, I'll change it out.
I never clean my strings or wipe them down and I change them every couple of years. This might not be the thread for me.
Haven't tried the denatured trick yet. Theoretically, coiling them as they are in the pack when you buy them would only be about 1/4" to 3/8" thick, laid flat. I would think recoiling them like that would require very little alcohol to cover them if you have a round container of similar diameter. My question is does soaking them in this manner do damage to the threads on the ball ends?
I'm sure any liquid immersion method is going to damage silks. But that is just cosmetic, in most cases. Unless unscratched tuning pegs are something you are ocd about. But taking silked strings on and off again alone is enough to start damaging the silk. I wouldn't worry about it either way. I care more about sound than fuzzy silks. Most of the strings I use don't have silis anyway. Thanks for the reminder I'm at Walmart and almost forgot to see if alcohol was on sale.
Still waiting on the scoop between denatured vs 91% iso
Denatured alcohol in a metal can from the paint thinner aisle has all sorts of warnings about not coming in contact with it, and a cancer warning. $4.47 qt
91% isopropyl, no warnings other than don't drink or get in eyes. $2.58 qt (but out of stock, $1.48 pt in stock. I have about 3/4 of a quart left at home.
Maybe I need to hunt down some 97-99% isopropyl, still waiting on wether or not the denatured is really any better for this purpose than high test isopropyl, even 91%? I am assuming the denatured is 99% although it was not specified on the stuff at Walmart, nor the ingredients other than "contains methanol". I try to avoid messing with methanol. I wash my hands with isopropyl sometimes.
91% isopropyl, no warnings other than don't drink or get in eyes. $2.58 qt (but out of stock, $1.48 pt in stock. I have about 3/4 of a quart left at home.
Maybe I need to hunt down some 97-99% isopropyl, still waiting on wether or not the denatured is really any better for this purpose than high test isopropyl, even 91%? I am assuming the denatured is 99% although it was not specified on the stuff at Walmart, nor the ingredients other than "contains methanol". I try to avoid messing with methanol. I wash my hands with isopropyl sometimes.
EDIT... just to be clear. Don't drink denatured alcohol from unknown sources..
EDIT 2... Scratch my whole post... What I meant is apparently called "rectified spirit" in English...
Don't know about the legal situation in the US, but denatured alcohol is in fact just pure ethanol. It is not only safe to consume, it is for example used to create certain liqueurs.
For tax reasons, the cheap stuff from the supermarket is usually mixed with other substances to make it not safe for consumption. But from a pharmacy or chemical supplier you should be able to get the good stuff for next to nothing.
Much much better than isopropyl and less stinky. I use it to clean my records.
EDIT 2... Scratch my whole post... What I meant is apparently called "rectified spirit" in English...
Don't know about the legal situation in the US, but denatured alcohol is in fact just pure ethanol. It is not only safe to consume, it is for example used to create certain liqueurs.
For tax reasons, the cheap stuff from the supermarket is usually mixed with other substances to make it not safe for consumption. But from a pharmacy or chemical supplier you should be able to get the good stuff for next to nothing.
Much much better than isopropyl and less stinky. I use it to clean my records.
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Anything in the us labeled denatured is not safe to drink. And it is usually ethanol with methanol added. Don't think any of the cheap stuff is safe to drink here, the alcohol taxes and regulations prevent any such loopholes.