Boiling strings

Tomas · May 16th, 2005, 07:49 PM

Does anybody know something about boiling strings?. I have both nylon and steel (electric) strings guitars and I was wondering if I could boil the old strings to make them useful.

i´ll wait your answer!

Cheers!

Jakeweiser · May 16th, 2005, 08:03 PM

to the best of my knowledge that is a technique best for bass strings due to the fact that they are expensive to replace on an upright bass.

A pack of guitarstrings shouldn't be something you should worry about paying big bucks for. I'm not exactly sure how effective boiling strings is, I would personally just shell out the 7 bucks on a pack of strings.

Tomas · May 16th, 2005, 09:04 PM

I see.
But i live in Argentina...things aren´t that cheap! =(

edrowland · May 16th, 2005, 09:08 PM

heh. I've never heard of anyone boiling guitar strings. You may have to be the guinea pig and let us know how it goes.

I can't really thing of a reason *not* to do it, other than that it's going to be a real pain in the butt to restring them.

I've tried scraping the finger crudd of tired strings -- I'm a shedder, so I go through strings quickly -- but it seems to really throw the intonation off. Not recommended.

Vihar · May 17th, 2005, 04:24 AM

Yes you can boil 'em and that'll remove all the gunk. You're gonna get pretty clean, but already stretched out (and worn out by the frets) strings. Also, don't forget you (probably) already cut them to length at the tuning keys, so you'll have a hard time putting them back (and pulling the curled end through the bridge/tailpiece is not a daydream either). Been there, done that.

Never tried it with nylons though, but I suppose that this heat would deform them pretty well.

TheSeanKelly · May 17th, 2005, 04:47 AM

if they're old strings, I'd suggest go ahead and give it a shot and report your findings :-P

Although im not so sure about the nylon, I tend to thikn they'll melt. but then again I don't know how tough nylon is

Amy_N · May 17th, 2005, 07:05 AM

Have you tried cleaning the strings with alcohol? I'm not a guitarist, but I've seen some do this and it may be a better alternative than removing them and boiling.

jazzbluescat · May 17th, 2005, 09:49 AM

Boiling strings

They taste anything like cheekin?

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)

poinciana · May 18th, 2005, 10:55 AM

Hey Tomas - I play electric bass and I used to boil my steel strings when they would begin to dull down. After you boil strings they are more likely to break and its harder to keep them in tune. Now I only use rubbing alcohol poured into a clean rag to wipe the strings down while they're still on my bass. I noticed the alcohol was staining my fret board so now I use saran wrap(a sheet of plastic basically, even part of a trash bag would do) in between the strings and the frets to keep the alcohol off the neck. Its best to start this with a new set of strings and do it right after you play - once they're to far gone nothing will bring them back. I have no experience with nylon strings. One other note on this, the level of acidity from fingertips is basically what eats away at the strings. Certain foods can make the body more acidic. I noticed that after I started a vegetarian diet and drinking a gallon of water a day that my strings are lasting longer than they used to.

May 16th, 2005, 07:49 PM	#1
Tomas Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Argentina, South America Posts: 131	Boiling strings Does anybody know something about boiling strings?. I have both nylon and steel (electric) strings guitars and I was wondering if I could boil the old strings to make them useful. i´ll wait your answer! Cheers!

May 16th, 2005, 08:03 PM	#2
Jakeweiser www.jakehanlon.com Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 4,935	to the best of my knowledge that is a technique best for bass strings due to the fact that they are expensive to replace on an upright bass. A pack of guitarstrings shouldn't be something you should worry about paying big bucks for. I'm not exactly sure how effective boiling strings is, I would personally just shell out the 7 bucks on a pack of strings. __________________ "I am not in a habit of quoting myself..." - Jake Hanlon Check out my website

May 17th, 2005, 07:05 AM	#7
Amy_N Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 132	Other cleaning methods? Have you tried cleaning the strings with alcohol? I'm not a guitarist, but I've seen some do this and it may be a better alternative than removing them and boiling.

May 17th, 2005, 09:49 AM	#8
jazzbluescat Unregistered and feral Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spring Lake, NC Posts: 2,060	Boiling strings They taste anything like cheekin? (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.) __________________ A lot of good arguments are ruined by some fool who knows what he's talking about.

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May 16th, 2005, 09:04 PM	#3
Tomas Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Argentina, South America Posts: 131	I see. But i live in Argentina...things aren´t that cheap! =(

May 16th, 2005, 09:08 PM	#4
edrowland Guitar Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 921	heh. I've never heard of anyone boiling guitar strings. You may have to be the guinea pig and let us know how it goes. I can't really thing of a reason not to do it, other than that it's going to be a real pain in the butt to restring them. I've tried scraping the finger crudd of tired strings -- I'm a shedder, so I go through strings quickly -- but it seems to really throw the intonation off. Not recommended.

May 17th, 2005, 04:24 AM	#5
Vihar Banned User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hungary Posts: 793	Yes you can boil 'em and that'll remove all the gunk. You're gonna get pretty clean, but already stretched out (and worn out by the frets) strings. Also, don't forget you (probably) already cut them to length at the tuning keys, so you'll have a hard time putting them back (and pulling the curled end through the bridge/tailpiece is not a daydream either). Been there, done that. Never tried it with nylons though, but I suppose that this heat would deform them pretty well.

May 17th, 2005, 04:47 AM	#6
TheSeanKelly Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bethlehem PA, Milford CT Posts: 705	if they're old strings, I'd suggest go ahead and give it a shot and report your findings :-P Although im not so sure about the nylon, I tend to thikn they'll melt. but then again I don't know how tough nylon is

May 18th, 2005, 10:55 AM	#9
poinciana Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 220	Hey Tomas - I play electric bass and I used to boil my steel strings when they would begin to dull down. After you boil strings they are more likely to break and its harder to keep them in tune. Now I only use rubbing alcohol poured into a clean rag to wipe the strings down while they're still on my bass. I noticed the alcohol was staining my fret board so now I use saran wrap(a sheet of plastic basically, even part of a trash bag would do) in between the strings and the frets to keep the alcohol off the neck. Its best to start this with a new set of strings and do it right after you play - once they're to far gone nothing will bring them back. I have no experience with nylon strings. One other note on this, the level of acidity from fingertips is basically what eats away at the strings. Certain foods can make the body more acidic. I noticed that after I started a vegetarian diet and drinking a gallon of water a day that my strings are lasting longer than they used to.