Protecting plain wire from rust

[Mark Schecter]

Hi, all. Here's something I've been wondering about.

In pianos with rusty strings, I use Protek on the strings where they 
pass under the capo, and where they pass through the agraffes, as well 
as on the counterbearing felt, to help ease rendering. It works, and 
seems to keep on working for at least a few months, maybe longer. I have 
often wondered if there is any substance (such as, oh, maybe, Protek?) 
that people use on clean, shiny strings to prevent rust or tarnish ever 
developing? I could imagine taking whole rolls of wire and dipping it in 
a bath of XYZ-stuff before stringing, or sponging it on in the piano.

We are instructed to coat practically every other metal surface in every 
device in our lives (think car) with something or other, so why not 
piano strings? I guess we could expand the question to include 
copper-wound bass strings, too, if anyone has any thoughts about those. 
I'm interested to hear people's ideas.

-Mark Schecter