Boiling strings in the same pot you cook with is so gross

[chuck norriss]

so I left a set of strings in turpenoid--turpentine alternative--overnight and it worked like a charm. They're clean, dry--turpenoid evaporates so it doesn't take much to dry them off, a lot of crap came off--also very very gross, and they sound great like new. They feel soft and dry like good skin
Any other ways to clean strings instead of boiling?
-Cat

[Mushroo]

Buy a cheap pot at a yard sale for 50 cents.

[wallybill]

I have a pvc tube filled with ethyl alcohol. I soak the strings in that for a couple of days and they are good as new. I've been alternating between the same two sets of strings for several years now.

[fourstringdrums]

Buy flats and never buy strings again

[OPBASSMAN1994]

Maybe I should try that with my Rotos....

[Rick Blanc]

Wash the pot?

[BassNeo]

Originally Posted by Mushroo

Buy a cheap pot at a yard sale for 50 cents.

+1
Or borrow your room mate's.

[Freez]

Stop boiling strings. It's a waste of water and gas.

[jimmydean]

kEEP ON BOILING STRINGS KIDDIES! HOW CAN GETTING MORE PLAY OUT OF SOMETHING BE A BAD THING? IF YOUR NOT GETTING YOUR STRINGS FOR FREE,BOIL THEM AND SAVE THE MONEY FOR YOUR NEXT BASS(I will stop yelling now).

[tylerwylie]

Denatured alcohol works so much better.

[lowfreq33]

Boiling is bad because the water gets in between the core and wrap wire, oxidizes and rusts, weakening the string and leading to breakage. Denatured alcohol doesn't do this as it evaporates very quickly.

[Freez]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

kEEP ON BOILING STRINGS KIDDIES! HOW CAN GETTING MORE PLAY OUT OF SOMETHING BE A BAD THING? IF YOUR NOT GETTING YOUR STRINGS FOR FREE,BOIL THEM AND SAVE THE MONEY FOR YOUR NEXT BASS(I will stop yelling now).

Try denatured alcohol. Water kills your strings faster. Jimmy Dean should stick to making sausage.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Freez

Try denatured alcohol. Water kills your strings faster. Jimmy Dean should stick to making sausage.

In fact, sausage oils kill strings quicker.

[NKBassman]

Where can you get denatured alcohol? Hardware store?

[MikeBass]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

In fact, sausage oils kill strings quicker.

Which sausage oil is best for metal???

[Epidrake]

Yes, the hardware store. Turpenoid is a really expensive way to clean your strings. Denatured alcohol is way cheaper.

[Ewo]

OP, why dontcha search for the alcohol soak threads here, on TB? Extensive discussion for you to peruse.

IME, the alcohol soak works: you get a good amount of life back in the strings. Boiling doesn't work; I tried that a number of times before I got clued to the alcohol soak technique. I built a PVC tube for less than $20, and it works great.

I keep the tube outside the house, since I'm using denatured alcohol and the stuff is flammable. Big Ol' Harry suggested using isopropyl alcohol, since it's not flammable, but I haven't done that myself. I can tell you that denatured alcohol (in the paint department at Lowe's) gets the gunk out of the windings, for sure.

There's a description of how to build a cleaning tube here. I used a bigger diameter pipe so my 5-string sets fit comfortably in the tube.

[chuck norriss]

thanks ewok thanks everyone
i'll try alcohol when i run out of turpenoid i know it's not cheap but wehappened to have a 1/2 gallon so i (mis)used it

mmmm sausage

[Ottsworth]

If you drain the water after boiling and put the grime on pasta, adds a bit of an earthy taste to any sauce!!! :P