[pianotech] Cleaning bass strings

[David Lawson]

Can I have my two pennies worth? I have on many occasions removed the bass 
strings and boiled up a 20 litre (5 gallon) pot, and included a mild soap, 
(not detergent), and boiled them for about 15 minutes. I remove them and 
hang them up immediately. The water evaporates straight away and the strings 
no longer have the verdi greece attached to the copper. I then take every 
string and rub them with a medium steel wool. I find pretty much each time 
that the result is a much better tone.
David Lawson OZ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <johnparham at piano88.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 8:59 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cleaning bass strings


Thanks for all the feedback.  At this point I imagine the rewards won't
outweigh the effort, especially since we are talking about removing
different types of contaminates in guitar strings vs. piano strings.

-John Parham

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cleaning bass strings
> From: "Joe Goss" <imatunr at srvinet.com>
> Date: Thu, March 24, 2011 11:54 pm
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
>
>
> Hi
> I would think that one would want to bring the pot you are using to a hard
> boil just prior to removing the strings so that all of the water on the
> strings would flash off.
> Too much work for me with not much in the way of assured success.
> Would never try it on a customers piano. However we have one gent in our
> area who makes a living turning around old beaters. Humm
> Joe Goss BSMusEd MMusEd RPT
> imatunr at srvinet.com
> www.mothergoosetools.com
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <johnparham at piano88.com>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 9:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cleaning bass strings
>
>
> I recently visited a music store in Hickory and spoke to some musicians
> who have been playing guitar for over 30 years, so they're borderline
> "seasoned veterans."  They have friends who insist that boiling guitar
> bass strings rejuvenate the wound strings.  They asked me if it works on
> bass strings in a piano.  I told them no, mainly because extended life
> on a guitar means another week or two of playing; extended life on a
> piano means another 10 years.  After 10 years, rust can consume a set of
> piano strings.
>
> Since that conversation I have revisited that question several times in
> my mind.
>
> Has anyone ever tried boiling bass strings on a piano? If you boiled
> them you would have to 1)thoroughly dry them before putting them on the
> piano, and/or 2) lubricate them to make sure they did not rust.
>
> -John Parham
>
> > -------- Original Message --------
> > Subject: [pianotech] Cleaning bass strings
> > From: lee innocent <ljinno at googlemail.com>
> > Date: Thu, March 24, 2011 10:21 am
> > To: pianotech at ptg.org
> >
> >
> > Hello again,
> > I am also interested in the different methods used to clean up bass
> > strings
> > whilst in the piano.  Working on a piano, customer doesnt want it
> > restrung,
> > They sound reasonable, but I would be interested in cleaning them up to
> > see
> > if there is a noticable improvement and also, for a visual improvemnt.
> > Thanks
> > Lee