<div>I have used the Mapes IGS on 2 pianos in the last 2 years with no sign of any rust or tarnish. I live & work in close proximity to the Mississippi river in Wisconsin, these pianos are in the same home one in the walkout basement. I used cornstarch on my hands and in the box of tuning pins, then blew the residue and vacuumed out the piano after I finished stringing </div> <div> </div> <div>There has been a recent string on this site, started by yours truly entitled "Stringing Faux Pas or Not Taught Anymore?" In which myself and others weighed in on types of wire and the use of cornstarch, talc, gloves etc. to protect wire from hand oils, thus reducing the risk of tarnish/rust. </div> <div> </div> <div>I am not a fan of the "wipe it down with Protec afterward" method since we aren't certain of the long range effects of Protec on hammers, etc. I also wonder if the coils, becket, tuning pins, sides of the wire (between each unison and note), termination points(bridge, hitchpin, agraffe,bearing point), etc. can be thoroughly cleaned with Protec after stringing.  <br><br> </div> <div><span class="gmail_quote">On 8/22/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">BRETT GLASS</b> <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:bgpianoman@email.com" target="_blank">bgpianoman@email.com </a>> wrote:</span> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"> <div>Aloha,  I'm getting ready to order string for a Steinway B and saw the supplier has two types . I have always used  ROSLAU . Is Mapes Better ? I noticed little specs of rust on the string supply I have . Most of it is over 6 months old , and the last time I used it I started seeing these little specs within a day or two on an old Hardwood BG . I can't have that on this Steinway ! </div> <div>I always wipe down the strings with Pro-teck after I'm done installing them . So it must have been from setting around in the restring tool case and this climate over here .</div> <div> </div> <div>Thanks for any Ideas, Brett</div><br>-- <div>We've Got Your Name at <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.mail.com/?utm_source=mail_sent_footer&utm_medium=email&utm_term=070621&utm_content=textlink&utm_campaign=we_got_your_name" target="_blank"> Mail.com</a><br>Get a <b>FREE</b> E-mail Account Today - Choose From 100+ Domains</div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Michael Magness<br>Magness Piano Service<br>608-786-4404<br><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.ifixpianos.com/" target="_blank"> www.IFixPianos.com</a><br>email <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:mike@ifixpianos.com" target="_blank">mike@ifixpianos.com</a>