Spills on bass wires

[C. Mike Swendsen]

Tunapiana@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 97-10-09 01:43:20 EDT, you write:
> 
> << Greg's proposed experiment to burn away the contaminents with a heat
>  gun, I think, I would reserve for a moment when I already have the
>  customer's request for new strings and have the new wire in my hands. I
>  wonder at what temperature  ???  you might change the tempering of the
>  core wire, and if it could be weakened and break. ??? >>
> 
> Dear Mike and List:
> 
> Those are good questions.
> 
> My idea was as follows:
> 
> With the tension down (bass strings only, of course) and bass wires off of
> the hitch pins, gradually work the heat from the gun back and forth across
> the areas of the spills until you can see some evidence of results...i.e.
> "steam" or  "smoke" or ???
> I want to re-iterate to everyone on this list that this is only an idea based
> on a theory. I don't think the temper of the wire will change unless you keep
> applying heat to the point the the wire becomes so hot as to glow or get
> really discolored, although it seems to me that if you were to use this heat
> applied in conjunction with the water as you described that maybe it would be
> even more effective. I don't know-just theories and ideas...What thinketh
> all, O list dearest....
> 
>I can't remember exactly what the figures are, I would have to look them up, but I remember reading somewhere that it only takes about 30 minutes at 350 deg. F. to temper hardened tool steel.  Who knows what it would do to spring steel?
C. Mike Swendsen RPT