ToothBrush ???

[shadowhywind]

So i just got a rehair done on my bow after like 4 years, got a new bow case to better protect it. So in return i want to keep the hair clean as well. I have seen many people suggest using tooth brushs to clean up junked up rosin. I am wondering A) which directions B) should the hair be loosened or tightened C) any other tips to not do bad things?? Thanks for the advice

[EJ_Dad]

At the recomendation of a former teacher, I use a Pet Flea/Tick comb. It is finer than a comb for humans. She recomended a metal one, I could only find a plastic one. I use it after playing with the hair loose both directions once.

[Silversorcerer]

There are metal combs specifically for bow hair. These have smooth round teeth. I think I got one of these from Lynn Hannings. Generally these are made for aligning new hair when the bow is being re-haired. The best thing is just not to get the hair dirty. It only lasts about a year if you play arco every day. Contrary to what some believe (this will probably start either an argument or discussion) stallion hair doesn't have a "direction" like human hair.

If you don't put too much rosin on, then build up is not a problem. Always play a little before you add rosin. Once the bow is warmed up you will often find it doesn't need more rosin. And the best cure for too much is just play the !@#$ out of it for a few hours and it will powder off onto the strings and you can just wipe it off with a stiff weave cloth like linen or canvas.

Save the tooth brush for your teeth (shouldn't that be a teeth brush?) I know there is a methodology, but I think of that as a last option after poor preventive care.

And don't touch the hair with your fingers. Finger oil makes the hair skid.

[Cosmos]

I heard once that it is not a bad idea to put you bow in a freezer and then just shake the nasty rosin off it. Anyone ever tried this?

[toman]

Unless you're using massive amounts of some funky rosin, it really shouldn't be an issue. Just wipe the stick down and loosen the hair when you're not playing, get a rehair every year or so, and you shouldn't have any problems.

[Don Higdon]

Originally Posted by shadowhywind

got a new bow case to better protect it. So in return i want to keep the hair clean as well. I have seen many people suggest using tooth brushs to clean up junked up rosin. I am wondering A) which directions B) should the hair be loosened or tightened C) any other tips to not do bad things?? Thanks for the advice

Don't leave the bow inside a closed bow case for long periods. There is a tiny bug that eats bow hair. It thrives in the dark. At home, leave the bow case open. Exposing the bow to light keeps it from being attacked.
Cleaning the bow hair with a toothbrush is legitimate. Brush stroke should be in one direction only, from frog to tip. The hair should be at normal playing tension.

[Eli_Upright12]

I use a tooth brush with hard bristles, sometimes the Kolstein soft leaves little chunks and this gets those out. I'm not sure how essential this is, but with Pop's I would brush it out as often as possible to get rid of all the dust and chunks.

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by Cosmos

I heard once that it is not a bad idea to put you bow in a freezer and then just shake the nasty rosin off it. Anyone ever tried this?

I did it with a bow case and that might be what you heard about. The case got some sun (it moved while I wasn't looking) and a whole cake of Carlsson turned to syrup and ran all over inside the rosin zipper compartment. I put it in a freezer for 10 minutes and the stuff fell off like sand. I never did this with a bow, though. Not that it wouldn't work .....

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by toman

Unless you're using massive amounts of some funky rosin,....

You're not talking about unmentionable mutant alien goop again are you?

[Cosmos]

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

I did it with a bow case and that might be what you heard about. The case got some sun (it moved while I wasn't looking) and a whole cake of Carlsson turned to syrup and ran all over inside the rosin zipper compartment. I put it in a freezer for 10 minutes and the stuff fell off like sand. I never did this with a bow, though. Not that it wouldn't work .....

Haha I'm pretty sure the person who told me about this meant that it could be done with a bow! It was Greg Wylie who told me about it (the bow rehair-er)... Dunno if it would work. I might be nervous to try it.

[Minibass]

I use a tooth brush for my bow everyonce in a while. Other bass players made fun of me for it but its good to know im not the only one who uses one.

[kurt muroki]

I would never put a bow in the freezer!!!!!!!!! especially if it is a good one. risking damage to the bow aint worth getting rosin off the hair. I would go the toothbrush route anyday over the freezer.

[toman]

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

You're not talking about unmentionable mutant alien goop again are you?

No, never...

[shostkontrabass]

I use a toothbrush occasionally. I just go in a very gentle frog-to-tip motion to remove any dust or other debris. In the past I've actually split some of the hairs from brushing a little too hard. The trick is to not let your hair get contaminated in the first place. It's a good idea to keep it in your bow case or covered when you aren't playing. I'm also pretty overprotective of the wood stick, so I wipe it down every time I'm done playing.

[davidzgeorge]

i think you need to get a rehair every 6 months or so. when the season start to change is a good idea. i usually get mine rehaired before schools starts in the summer and before second semester starts in january.

if the hair gets REALLY gunky i clean it out using a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol. some people have told me not to, but my bow repairman says alcohol will do the trick. just dip the brush in some alcohol and scrub in one direction, from frog to tip. you can also dip the hair directly into a bowl of alcohol, if the rosin build up is THAT tough. DON'T GET ANY ALCOHOL ON THE STICK