polishing ground flats?

[pi_r_squared]

I bought a set a brite-flats for my 5-string, needed to order a 0.130 B string, the dealer I was buying the set from said he had one old-stock one left with a few rust spots, and I could have it (free) if I wanted it.

I got out some 600 grit sand paper to clean (polish?) the rust off, cleaned out the dust with denatured alchohol, seems to work fine, sounds like the rest of the set.

Here's the thing.....the string I worked over with 600 grit feels as smooth as glass compared to the rest of the set....or the rest of the set feels like bailing twine in comparison to the low B.

I did it to the low B because I had nothing to lose, but am I going to reduce the string life (mostly worried about the dust that finds it's way into the windings) if I do this to the rest of the strings?

[Meatrus]

I dont think anyone would know for sure, but IMO it wouldnt cause any problems to polish the rest. I would use metal polish rather than paper. The others may feel a bit smoother after playing them for a while though.

Really to me and a lot of people flats sound better when dead, so even if the rust dust got in there and deadened it...no big deal! Or if the worst came to the worst and they snapped after 2 years instead of 5 or so, still no big deal really.

[mongo2]

Not saying what you should do or what, if any effect, it will have on the sound or life of the string but, if they were mine, I'd polish them with 600 emery paper and maybe go down to 1200 grit.

Now that I think of it, I have a set of DR flats I don't like the finish on. I think I may polish them up some.

[CapnSev]

All ground wound strings have a really gritty feel IME, Brite Flats included.

I've used scotch brite pads, and had some pretty good results with getting them to feel smooth.