Strings Oxidizing

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Will strings start to get rust particles on them from sitting out in the air? I have a few guitars that are "decorations" in my house...I play them once in a blue moon, but most of the time they just sit there and look pretty more than they are played. I just changed the strings on all of them. I know the oil and sweat on the hands and fingers will make the strings rust, but how about just sitting out in the air (not in the case)?

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

Jeff whenever your wife boils potatoes or spagetti or, other boiled foods, the humidity in your home jumps to about 60 - 80 percent.

You may want to consider nickel or stainless steel strings for your guitars.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

It is amazing what a fine grade steel wool will do by rubbing it up and down the strings. It takes the edges off.

Aloha,
Don

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

Plain strings are "tinned" carbon (plain) steel.

The tin coating is semi-effective in preventing oxidation for a short period of time ... but that doesn't last long ... especially when a bar is used.

Mapes makes alot of the "music wire" ... used by guitar string makers (see the list by clicking on the "next" arrow at the bottom of the page) ...

Jeff, living in Florida ... man, even your Kolopa will rust if its not protected ...

You could always move to Arizona ...

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Aiello's House of Gauss

My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 16 April 2005 at 10:52 AM.]

Ron Simpson · From: Illinois, USA

Using any steel wool near the pickup is kapu (forbidden). Magnets love steel wool, coated wire windings don't.

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I always carried a chamois cut to about 8x8 inches, to wipe the strings down after playing. It seems to take the sweat/acid away to allow the strings to last a little longer.

basilh · From: United Kingdom

quote:
If you didn't play a note on your guitar for three weeks you'd still need to change them. Just tuning to 440 and doing nothing stretches the life and flexibility out of the strings after a few weeks.

By the time strings rust they are most definitely ready for the bin..probably they coud damage the guitar by breaking without warning and causing undue stress to the neck...and should be changed.. see this http://www.b0b.com/infoedu/steelstr.htm

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Mike Fried · From: Nashville, TN, USA

I've used a small green Scotchbrite (sp?) pad for years - they work like steel wool but without the problems from shedding nasty magnetic particles all over the place. One will last for a very long time too. You can get them in larger sheets at a hardware store, and cut them to size.

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