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Topic: Breaking 5th string |
Dennis Manuel
From:
Quesnel, B.C., Canada
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Posted 6 May 2016 8:25 am |
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| What grit of emery cloth would I use to polish out a slight burr on a changer finger? Had this problem years ago on another guitar and can't remember what grit to use. The final cloth used was crocus cloth. Look forward to replies. Thanks in advance for your information. |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 6 May 2016 10:13 am
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It's tricky to do it properly with the finger in the guitar. Some guitars have enough space to slip a long strip up from the bottom and back down the other side. This is the best way to maintain a consistent radius as you surface the finger, but you still risk getting a bunch of really fine grit down in the changer axle. If you only work the top surface you definitely risk altering the radius of the finger and creating a flat spot, which might be worse than the burr you're trying to remove. Also need to be very careful to avoid rounding off the edges so as not to create a crown in the middle. The string will wander if the finger surface is not flat laterally.
If the burr is very deep you may need to use a couple of different grits to get a good result. It doesn't have to be emery cloth, wet/dry sandpaper works well too. I wouldn't use anything coarser than 320 or 400, then go to at least 600 or finer if you have the patience. If you can mask/isolate the finger well to avoid getting crud down into the axle, finish with some white polishing compound.
Ideally you should remove all the fingers, mount them together on an axle bolt and work them consistently around the radius like you're shining a shoe. Wet/dry sandpaper works well and can be lubricated with soapy water to avoid clogging the paper. Then, more importantly, cleaned, lubricated and re-installed with no stray grit in axle or pivots |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 6 May 2016 10:48 am
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| ian, you seem extremely well versed in everything steel guitar. i'm surprised i've never run into you in my 45 years in sacramento. |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 6 May 2016 11:34 am
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One of these days. I've been around here since '69 but had dropped out of music for most of the last 35 years or so. Back at it again now. I'm also the kid who got a new toy for Christmas and immediately took it apart to see how it worked  |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 6 May 2016 11:50 am
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Ian's right on the money with his approach. I always work the changer en masse.
I like to take the entire changer out and clamp all 10 fingers on the axle. I use crocus cloth (or some other fine grit abrasive) in a shoeshine rag-like motion from front to back, moving it frequently from finger to finger to be assured that all fingers have the same radius.
Then, the changer is polished on a buffing wheel similarly using the appropriate buffing compond. Finally it's cleaned with whatever solvent you prefer and re-installed |
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Jim Park
From:
Carson City, Nv
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Posted 6 May 2016 5:33 pm
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| Its actually pretty easy to remove burrs on the finger with it in the guitar......a small file turned on its side with some 800 grit wrapped around the file works good. Nice light pressure strokes starting from level with the neck to as far as you can get around the finger. As for debris, the aluminum usually stays in the sandpaper. A Dremel tool with polishing wheel will work also but care must be taken...... I learned this on a 73 Sho~Bud that was prone to breaking strings till I cleaned up the burr on the finger. If I was going to do an entire set of fingers I would build a radiusing jig |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 7 May 2016 2:45 am
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| I had a small burr on the 5th string finger on my Franklin causing string breakage. A light (careful) wet sanding with 600 grit and then 800 grit followed by polishing with Simichrome polish took care of it. That was about 10 years ago and no problems since. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 8 May 2016 12:54 am
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how long was the 5th string on the Steel before it broke ?
And, what Jack said with regard to simple now and then maintenance.
I do not disagree with pulling the changer and I have several times, but not for a simple 5 min deal on a single finger.
Many of us overlook the 5th string fatigue from the constant and repetitious A pedal activity. Similar to the B Pedal 3rd string. Hopefully we are not going for the worlds record of how long the 5th string has not been changed !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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