Are their any harmless (but effective) solvents for removing finger oils from fiddle strings? Infield reds, specifically. Been on about a year. Yeah, I know I’m overdue for a change, but I’m too cheap to buy new strings just yet. I do wipe my strings down after playing, but they’re starting to make my fingertips black after a fairly short time of playing (an hour or less). Tone’s a little dull but still okay. Rubbing alcohol?
I did a quick search, found nuthin. This has got to be a FAQ, tho.
I use 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) to remove rosin from my strings. It's quite effective, and I also rub down the whole length of string, but I am very careful not to let any get on the top varnish since alcohol will disolve it. There's no problem with the ebony finger board though. I also use Infield reds, and I find that after 6 - 8 months the A string begins to unravel about the position of the second finger (must be the place that gets most use), and at that time I replace all the strings since they are probably loosing their tone.
i use alcohol wipes -- the same ones that doctors or nurses use to prepare the skin for an injection. they're cheap -- a box of 100 is less than US$ 2 -- and they're not messy. since each wipe comes in a tinfoil packet, i can carry some in my fiddle case.
i have obligatos on my fiddle and the alcohol does not seem to affect them.
I too use meths ( only to clean the strings- not to drink!!). it's cheap and seems to work well though some have said its not a good idea.
Someone above mentioned strings unwinding. I've never experienced this and I play almost everyday. Excuse if this sounds stupid- but is it obvious when this happens. I tend to change my strings every 6-8 months- is this why it's not happened to me?
Dispite what every professional fiddler may advise, try not cleaning your strings for a month or two. Makes for a very smooth bow, and gives you an excuse for being lazy.
I have used Pirastro cleaner (applied with those cotton-wool pads used for eye-makeup removal) for ages and it works well. But WARNING - I once left the (damp) cleaning pad next to the (black) rosin in my violin case, and the solvent turned the rosin surface really sticky and unusable. I rescued the rosin by scraping and finely filing off the sticky layer, but I shall keep the two apart in future!
Funny, I thought the black fingertips was due to dye or paint coming off the artificially black fingerboard.
When I'm feeling especially motivated, I clean my strings with rubbing alcohol, but usually my fiddle has to make due with the old dry hankerchief that lives in the case.
Once after my fiddle was in the shop, and the strings had been cleaned with some mysterious oily substance, my bow wouldn't stick for days afterwards... There's something to be said for less than thorough cleaning.
Best way to 'freshen up' the strings is to take them off and boil them in water - with perhaps a couple of drops of vinegar. But if the strings are damaged - ie windings coming adrift - replace the string with a new one. Otherwise, if it's just to get rid of the rosin build up then use methylated spirits on a clean lint free cloth
cleaning fiddle strings
cleaning fiddle strings
Are their any harmless (but effective) solvents for removing finger oils from fiddle strings? Infield reds, specifically. Been on about a year. Yeah, I know I’m overdue for a change, but I’m too cheap to buy new strings just yet. I do wipe my strings down after playing, but they’re starting to make my fingertips black after a fairly short time of playing (an hour or less). Tone’s a little dull but still okay. Rubbing alcohol?
I did a quick search, found nuthin. This has got to be a FAQ, tho.
# Posted on June 8th 2005 by fidkid
Re: cleaning fiddle strings
Uh, ‘scuse me. I just searched “cleaning fiddle strings” and found lots of stuff. Heh. Heh. sorry.
# Posted on June 8th 2005 by fidkid
Re: cleaning fiddle strings
I use 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) to remove rosin from my strings. It's quite effective, and I also rub down the whole length of string, but I am very careful not to let any get on the top varnish since alcohol will disolve it. There's no problem with the ebony finger board though. I also use Infield reds, and I find that after 6 - 8 months the A string begins to unravel about the position of the second finger (must be the place that gets most use), and at that time I replace all the strings since they are probably loosing their tone.
S. in Seattle
# Posted on June 8th 2005 by Stewart
Re: cleaning fiddle strings
i use alcohol wipes -- the same ones that doctors or nurses use to prepare the skin for an injection. they're cheap -- a box of 100 is less than US$ 2 -- and they're not messy. since each wipe comes in a tinfoil packet, i can carry some in my fiddle case.
i have obligatos on my fiddle and the alcohol does not seem to affect them.
sarah (in portland)
# Posted on June 8th 2005 by sarahc
Re: cleaning fiddle strings
I too use meths ( only to clean the strings- not to drink!!). it's cheap and seems to work well though some have said its not a good idea.
Someone above mentioned strings unwinding. I've never experienced this and I play almost everyday. Excuse if this sounds stupid- but is it obvious when this happens. I tend to change my strings every 6-8 months- is this why it's not happened to me?
# Posted on June 8th 2005 by Caraaz
Re: cleaning fiddle strings
Dispite what every professional fiddler may advise, try not cleaning your strings for a month or two. Makes for a very smooth bow, and gives you an excuse for being lazy.
# Posted on June 8th 2005 by metastotle
Re: cleaning fiddle strings
I have used Pirastro cleaner (applied with those cotton-wool pads used for eye-makeup removal) for ages and it works well. But WARNING - I once left the (damp) cleaning pad next to the (black) rosin in my violin case, and the solvent turned the rosin surface really sticky and unusable. I rescued the rosin by scraping and finely filing off the sticky layer, but I shall keep the two apart in future!
# Posted on June 9th 2005 by domnull
Re: cleaning fiddle strings
Funny, I thought the black fingertips was due to dye or paint coming off the artificially black fingerboard.
When I'm feeling especially motivated, I clean my strings with rubbing alcohol, but usually my fiddle has to make due with the old dry hankerchief that lives in the case.
Once after my fiddle was in the shop, and the strings had been cleaned with some mysterious oily substance, my bow wouldn't stick for days afterwards... There's something to be said for less than thorough cleaning.
# Posted on June 11th 2005 by treecipitation
Re: cleaning fiddle strings
Best way to 'freshen up' the strings is to take them off and boil them in water - with perhaps a couple of drops of vinegar. But if the strings are damaged - ie windings coming adrift - replace the string with a new one. Otherwise, if it's just to get rid of the rosin build up then use methylated spirits on a clean lint free cloth
Cheers
Jerry
# Posted on June 18th 2005 by ijerry