Boiling your strings?

ElectroStompbox · #1 07-15-2007, 09:31 AM

does anyone else do this? i just found out and its the coolest thing ever

punkbassistfc · #2 07-15-2007, 09:57 AM

yeah, i find that they sound worse with in 10 minutes of playing them again.

ElectroStompbox · #3 07-15-2007, 10:03 AM

how do you boil them? i put them in a pot with water and rubbing alcohol for about 20 minutes

punkbassistfc · #4 07-15-2007, 10:10 AM

I only use water, and put them in for 20 minutes. Is rubbing alcohol methylated spirits?

ElectroStompbox · #5 07-15-2007, 08:44 PM

idk i know its just rubbing alchohol..for like cleaning cuts and stuff

JimmyM · #6 07-15-2007, 09:04 PM

Rubbing alcohol? Lucky you didn't start a fire! Don't do that!

Kael · #7 07-15-2007, 10:16 PM

Boiling does work, sorta. It will make your strings zing again for a while. It will also shorten their overall lifespan. ie: period till they break. They also don't stay bright after boiling very long. Many people here seem to prefer soaking the strings in denatured alcohol overnight instead of boiling. I have to try that as I don't like my strings overly zingy.

figuredbass · #8 07-16-2007, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectroStompbox

does anyone else do this? i just found out and its the coolest thing ever

I'm a major advocate of boiling strings. Try ten minutes of boiling in water mixed with ONE DROP ONLY of dish washing liquid (i.e. Ivory, Palmolive, etc.) to help disolve and remove dirt and grease. It's really important to wipe and dry the strings completely before re-stringing. Water must not remain inside the windings. I usually dry them with a fan or radiator. The practical limit on the number of times boiling is effective seems to be twice. After that the string has usually reached the point of no return, due primarily to metal fatigue. I've found that hex core strings hold up to boiling better than round core strings because the hex edges of the core wire appears to keep the innermost winding locked on the core wire.

owensea777 · #9 07-16-2007, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectroStompbox

how do you boil them? i put them in a pot with water and rubbing alcohol for about 20 minutes

Jesus man this is the internet. Don't try to kill anyone

SUNNyday r. · #10 07-16-2007, 02:08 AM

No. No. No. Don't do it. If you must do it then try soaking in denatured alc or acetone.

JimmyM · #11 07-16-2007, 02:24 AM

I'm not so convinced about soaking them in denatured alcohol. I've been trying that recently, and quite honestly, I'm not very impressed with its cleaning capabilities. Soaking them overnight seemed to make very little difference. Soaking them three nights made more of a difference. I've had a set soaking for 2 weeks now and I'm going to see if that works better. But so far, I like boiling better. Yes, it fatigues the metal, but so does taking them on and off, and I'm not sure about which is worse.

Vin_MM_Sabre_79 · #12 07-16-2007, 02:29 AM

Sure.
I use metholated spirits in a closed pot - some of my strings must be over 10 years old too.
Make sure you use an electric cooker though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

meths turns to vapour and goes straight to the open flame. Believe me i've had ... er........ an interesting experience with that.

Having said that. I in no way condone anyone replicating my stupidity.

JimmyM · #13 07-16-2007, 02:41 AM

Flammable liquids + heat = a really stupid and avoidable fire hazard

anon_6j591b0 · #14 07-16-2007, 03:05 AM

Too cheap to buy new strings? Maybe you deserve to blow up............
...which is exactly what's likely to happen if you boil alcohol in a pot on yer stove...jeezuz. That's one of the most stupid things I've heard around here. If you really think it's a good idea make sure you video it (from the furthest doorway) for the Darwin Awards. Don't forget to pass the time the strings are cleaning by lighting a joint.

Thunder Pulse · #15 07-16-2007, 12:14 PM

boiling strings

SGT. Pepper · #16 07-16-2007, 02:16 PM

Just buy a new set!

Asa Samuel · #17 07-16-2007, 02:31 PM

try it with a little vinegar.

works fer me if i am low on money till i cang et another set.

Cristo · #18 07-16-2007, 02:45 PM

You probably won't gain much by boiling them in a mixture of water and alcohol. The alcohol is already diluted, and it boils sooner than water, so it all goes up in vapor.

Boiling does work - at least it will restore some "life" to old roundwounds.

I've used spray on engine degreaser with pretty good success. It dissolves all kinds of engine gunk so it can handle finger gunk too.

Spray it on, wait a few minutes, then wash it off with water. Then shake/spin/swing the strings to get rid of excess water, dry them off, and spray them down with some WD-40. Wipe the excess off in a few minutes and there you go.

PrecisionBass · #19 07-16-2007, 08:52 PM

I tried boiling once. It was nice, but then I figured, if they're sounding really flat, it means the bass needs new strings.

Plus the zing doesn't last that long.

I use one drop of Palmolive and boil them for 30 minutes, let 'em dry, then boil them again for 20 minutes in just plain water to get the detergent out. Dry 'em off COMPLETELY and you've got yourself a decent set of strings.

But again, just get a new pair.

knarleybass · #20 07-16-2007, 09:06 PM

I am trying it now... I put a little dish soap in the water as well, I plan to let them go for 30 min.