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23 Jan 04 - 05:02 AM (#1099456) Subject: New uses for old string? From: onlyme Ive been following the 'pre srtetching strings thread' and its brought to mind some thing i keep meaning to investigate. i don't change my srings that often but i always keep hold of the old ones and stick them in a draw . when they have been there long enough to form one chunck, i then dispose of them (guitily :( ).Some enterpising body out there must have some ideas as to how to make use of these things , in say, projects for kids etc? With or without the use of a dremel!(see my bottlneck thread ) |
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23 Jan 04 - 05:34 AM (#1099484) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST I have used them at least once as wire for hanging a picture, alternatively garrotting the odd bad bodhran player is also an option with the high E. |
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23 Jan 04 - 05:43 AM (#1099489) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: onlyme gloves required one would have thought ! |
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23 Jan 04 - 05:50 AM (#1099491) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Dave Bryant and one of those plastic decontamination suits for some of the bodhran players I can think of. |
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23 Jan 04 - 06:03 AM (#1099499) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Steve Parkes I managed to foist my old strings and the trimmings from the new ones onto our resident railway modeller. Heaven only knows what he does with them ... |
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23 Jan 04 - 06:16 AM (#1099509) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Wilfried Schaum Steve - I'm a railway modeller, too. Please ask him what he does with the strings. Electric ducts? Wilfried |
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23 Jan 04 - 06:18 AM (#1099510) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: pearn Norwegian "idol" singers use them for inter-teeth cleaning (low E). |
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23 Jan 04 - 06:47 AM (#1099535) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Fergie Except for the excellent suggestion concerning bodhrán player (death is too good for them), Mudcatters show little imagination when it comes to recycling guitar strings. To remedy this situation I submit the following: Have you tried flossing with them? Snaring rabbits? Substitute car antenna? Cheese cutter? Banana slicer? Lock picks? Clothslining bass players? Acupuncture? Kettle defurrer? Cleaning your nails? I know of a lutier who uses them as a sex aid, but hey! you don't want to go there. Other suggestion are welcome so Mudcatters get the old thing caps on and post your suggestions here. Fergie the list is potentially endless |
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23 Jan 04 - 08:52 AM (#1099605) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Midchuck At many jams, you get a dickhead who breaks a string and didn't bring any spares, so he wants you to break up a set of yours to provide him with one, and if you don't, somehow it becomes your fault for wrecking the session by preventing him continuing to play. I like to carry some old used strings to hand out to such types. Peter. |
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23 Jan 04 - 09:05 AM (#1099612) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Mooh The beads, especially the coloured ones, make great jewelry crafts. I use them to make rhythm shakers out of film canisters and gum machine plastic eggs. Also good for rain sticks and wave drums (or whatever you call those things). The strings are good for rabbit snares. Peace, Mooh. |
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23 Jan 04 - 09:07 AM (#1099614) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Bee-dubya-ell I keep one or two old sets in each of my guitar cases for emergencies. High E's make pretty good salt-water fishing leaders for teethy varieties like mackerel. I've made cut-off wires for pottery from various gauges. Low E's make pretty good pipe cleaners. Or make art from them. Bruce |
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23 Jan 04 - 09:14 AM (#1099621) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Amos Doncha hate it when people take the kindness of strangers as their due? They can be used (the lower three) for removing finish from chair rungs and in the grooves of figured wood. They make handy garrots, as mentioned above, and can be used for executing hamsters condemned to hang by the neck until dead for revolutionary activities. There is no end to the things that you can hange up with them, including sidearms (tied through the trigger guard with a slip knot) and they are handy for keeping large stacks of bank accounting reports in order for storage. They make fine temporary mouse-leashes and can be used to catch certain sorts of very heavy fish. Modelers can use them to represent cables in biplane construction, bicycle spokes, car antennae, and the like. If one has a fully plumbed dollhouse woth thousands of dollars at risk of ruination because of backed up drains on the second story, what better tool than a used "D" to snake the tiny pipes right out? I understand that the Tin Woodman uses them as Q-tips, cutting off three inches at a time. They make excellent laces for very hard shoes such as those worn by full-suit divers. They conduct electricity and can be uised to fashiuon emergency fuses, and in some cases to blow fuises on important circuits such as burglar alarms. They are excellent for putting out an opponent's eyes and in emergencies can serve as temprary tourniquets. They can also be pressed into service as temporary jewelry for social events which have caught one unprepared, or to prepare purse-clasps and extremely small steam engines. These are just a few uses which come to mind. Regards, A |
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23 Jan 04 - 09:20 AM (#1099626) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: dick greenhaus Or you can knit armored garments for SCA events. The only practical use I've found for high strings is cleaning out the little holes in my car's windshield washers. |
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23 Jan 04 - 09:28 AM (#1099632) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: onlyme Nice one Amos..You made me lol .! i did just wonder if anybody used them in such a way as to extend their intended purpose ie sound production..but who cares ... the dolls house idea gives me ideas about constructing replica suspension bridges,but i'll cross that.... |
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23 Jan 04 - 09:40 AM (#1099641) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Roger the Skiffler ..and of course the Doctor in Captain Corelli used mandolin strings in surgery. RtS (still working on the screenplay for Corporal Koreltzis' Bouzouki) |
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23 Jan 04 - 11:27 AM (#1099729) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: okthen I'm told you can get money for old rope, probably a bit less for string. |
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23 Jan 04 - 11:36 AM (#1099736) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Liam of the Ferry High E's make great tripwires for rich uncles. Should really be sure you're in the will first. |
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23 Jan 04 - 11:39 AM (#1099740) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Justa Picker This appears to be a worth-while cause for used strings. |
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23 Jan 04 - 11:46 AM (#1099748) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST,ClaireBear A fellow I used to perform with made Turk's head finger and scarf rings of the wrapped ones. They were actually quite attractive in a folkie sort of way. |
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23 Jan 04 - 11:48 AM (#1099753) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Steve Parkes Iwouldn't recomend anyone using strings as sutures unless they are gut strings: steel ones could be a bit uncomfortable! |
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23 Jan 04 - 01:17 PM (#1099818) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: onlyme Thats a nice one Justa picker. I don't go thro' that many myself but i wonder if anyone Uk is involved with this (sort of holding centre if thats not too grand an image). Seems a little incongruous(?) to be aeroplaning odd sets and singles around the world .Or maybe there are projects more locally that could make use of 'em? |
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23 Jan 04 - 03:06 PM (#1099873) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST,string miser Having only played guitar for 45years (on average 5 days a week 3-4 hours a day) I am not really in a position to comment, although I do take my "Cathedral Strings" off every 2-3 years and boil them I haven't as yet had to replace one! :-) If you use Elixir strings you could knit them into a waterproof but breathable jacket for when you go backpacking or better still a backpacker guitar case? |
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23 Jan 04 - 04:43 PM (#1099945) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: McGrath of Harlow That link justpicka gave is a great idea - in case people skipped by it, here it is again The Second Strings Project:"a campaign to collect and distribute used guitar strings to needy musicians throughout the world. This effort will help keep musical creativity alive in countries that might otherwise die." |
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23 Jan 04 - 05:22 PM (#1099959) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Bardford Lens cleaners for pinhole cameras. |
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23 Jan 04 - 06:05 PM (#1099991) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: onlyme Thanks McGrath of Harlow. i wanted to do that but wasn't sure how |
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23 Jan 04 - 08:12 PM (#1100042) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Ebbie At first I thought it was a joke, JustaPicker, but that's a great idea. When I get several sets together I'll send them off. I change strings 3 or 4 times a year. I can tell other people too. I do get this mental vision of someone getting a tangled mess of strings in the mail and having to toss the entire thing. Used strings tend to be a little wild. The only use I had ever found for them was hanging a phone book on the wall above one of the phones by the low E knotted and passed about half way into the book. |
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23 Jan 04 - 08:17 PM (#1100044) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST Stretch them between pea sticks and place over newly sown grass seed, it keeps the birdies away. |
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23 Jan 04 - 08:40 PM (#1100054) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST Used guitar strings make good dulcimer strings. Just cut out the little brass jobbie on the end if you need to convert ball end strings to loop ends. |
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23 Jan 04 - 08:55 PM (#1100060) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Bee-dubya-ell Well, okay. Just by coincidence, Darryl Purpose is gonna be in town next Thursday night. I'll just grab up all the old strings around the house and take 'em to the show. Ed Gerhard's gonna be there too. |
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23 Jan 04 - 11:23 PM (#1100135) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: open mike Darryl is a dear...I was gonna recommend his project too. I once heard of a similar plan to share instruments and such with people in prison. Darryl has a wonderful video that is a documentary of a cross country peace walk that he took part in. It will inspire you to go out and work for change in the world!! do check out his music and his web site!! |
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24 Jan 04 - 01:19 AM (#1100186) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: The Fooles Troupe One guy wrote in his song book that he used old string to tie between the horns of the goats on his property to discourage them from forcing their way thru the electric fence... Robin |
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24 Jan 04 - 02:59 AM (#1100210) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST,Clint Keller I used a B guitar string to make a temporary replacement hand spring for a S&W revolver in 1952 or-3. It's still working. clint --and 'handspring' is the right name; the hand is the lever that turns the cylinder. |
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24 Jan 04 - 07:59 AM (#1100285) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: The Fooles Troupe Just a SOn of a Gun, er, Guitar, eh Mr Eastwood? |
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24 Jan 04 - 09:46 AM (#1100334) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Dave Hanson Spag bol, bit chewy mind. eric |
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24 Jan 04 - 11:18 AM (#1100374) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Amos Soldered into strange signatures for art works, they can be glued to statues or laid onto canvasses with some transparent acrylic. Hooked end to end they can be run across small country roads to decapitate motorcyclists when the occasion requires. They may be used to hang brass bearing-sleeves from the limbs of trees, and, diced fine, for stuffing animals cut from very fine-grained chainmail for aggressive children. They can be configured into loops on a stick for capturing stray iguana lizards, and are useful for renovating cheese slicers. They can be attached to small magnets for picking up iron filings in an oil-pan by threading them through the dipstick pipe. Tied to Brillo pads, they are useful for cleaning out the interior of exhaust pipes into which they are first rammed with a stick. They can be used for lifting omelettes from the bottoms of pans and scraping paint-drops from the back of one's neck. They can be used with some help for lifting off scabs resulting from skin-rashes. They are also useful for wiring up wind-chimes and hanging table forks from hooks, eaves, various projections and wooden beams throughout the house. They can be used for descaling the outer surface of pipes. The unwrapped sort are especially useful for piercing the ears of barnyard animals for earrings. They can be used for pulling tissue paper through a flute. With all these uses it is evident the world needs far more used strings than it was aware of. A |
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24 Jan 04 - 11:51 AM (#1100394) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: onlyme ok ok already...how about new uses for old threads...:) |
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24 Jan 04 - 07:25 PM (#1100671) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Banjo,London Keep all your old wound strings! Tie a dozen together about 18inches from the ball end. when your kitchen sink gets blocked, PLUNGE! The money you save on plumbers will pay for new strings for many years to come. (I haven't tried it but bass guitar strings may even work on toilets.) sincerely Banjo |
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24 Jan 04 - 08:07 PM (#1100692) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Ebbie Ah, but will they clean chimneys? |
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24 Jan 04 - 08:21 PM (#1100701) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: breezy thanks banjo london u anywhere near St albans? Sundays at the legion 8.00pm see george papavgeris I've used them to hold the handles on my guitar cases. plus duck tape |
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25 Jan 04 - 06:38 AM (#1100853) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: The Fooles Troupe Duck tape isn't all it's quacked up to be. |
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19 Jul 07 - 06:17 AM (#2106656) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Mr Happy With the very wet summer in Britain, weeds & grasses are going wild, so the mower & strimmer've been working flat out lately. Old nylon classical strings are excellent replacement strimmer wire, as they're a little harder than the usual stuff, yet not so much as wound steel ones. I don't use the steel ones 'cause they dont flail out well enough |
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19 Jul 07 - 10:39 AM (#2106799) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie ...Well this is probably original, for the past 10 years I've been using mine to repair the grass bag on my lawnmower! I use the wound lower strings to sew the bag back to it's frame (originally it was thick thread which lasted about two years!)it drags on the ground so I always have to replace the strings at the end of every season! |
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19 Jul 07 - 10:44 AM (#2106806) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: skipy Noel Murphey broke one at a gig RAF BZN Folk Club, way back in the late 70s, I made an earing out of it & wore it for the rest of the night! Skipy |
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19 Jul 07 - 11:55 AM (#2106865) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Jim Lad I play tenor guitar and have two strings left over with every new set of guitar strings. When I lived in Margaree, I gave the extra strings to my neighbour who used them for rabbit snares. The B & E strings would have been better but these worked. |
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19 Jul 07 - 12:34 PM (#2106912) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Scorpio In connection with both this thread and the Elixir Rant: I have one old string, 3rd of course, which is several years old and has lost the outer winding in several places and is, if new strings are to hand, predestined for the trash bin. However, when I used to use Elixirs (and still would if it wasn't for the breaking 3rd strings), I used to regularly find myself running out of the 3rds. One night, I had to use the knackered string, hoping it would last the session. As it turned out, it lasted for several ( OK, I'm lazy) and is still going. The 'superstring', as I dubbed it, is still in my guitar case, and is still used on occasion. I wish I could remember what make the bugger was, I'd buy a set. |
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19 Jul 07 - 02:11 PM (#2107017) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST,.gargoyle Sanres are a dandy use - because they have a strong preformed loop in one end. A great place to set snares is on logs crossing a stream. Raccoons, oppossum, fox and squirrels use these structures every night. Remember to put the loop lower as animals keep a lower center of gravity with their heads down as they cross on a log. Secure them tightly.
Sincerely, |
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19 Jul 07 - 02:30 PM (#2107036) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Jim Lad Also: The ball end can be removed and the string, lubricated with a "Non Toxic" vegetable oil. We want to choke the little buggers, not make them ill. |
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19 Jul 07 - 02:40 PM (#2107045) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: dick greenhaus Or you could add a couple of sections of broomstick and make a nifty garotte... |
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19 Jul 07 - 02:54 PM (#2107053) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Jim Lad Alternately; Keep the broomstick whole & wedge it onto a tea chest. |
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19 Jul 07 - 03:20 PM (#2107065) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: GUEST,Pamela in Ithaca A friend of mine is making old strings into hair barrettes and napkin rings , weaving them into turk's head knots and using other sailor's craft. She was selling them at the Old Songs Festival in NY this summer (USA) - they're beautiful. I bought one for my hair. |
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19 Jul 07 - 04:04 PM (#2107096) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Marc Bernier When I break a string I use one of the wound strings to clean my pipe. Then I fill the pipe and smoke it as I change the rest of the set. |
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20 Jul 07 - 07:15 AM (#2107493) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Rusty Dobro I stretch them between the handy wooden thing with six holes in it on the body of the guitar, and the little gear-wheel jobbies out beyond the top of the frets. No, hang on, that should be in the 'Old uses for new strings' thread. |
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20 Jul 07 - 08:05 AM (#2107513) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Mary Humphreys Cheese cutter - attach a wooden handle each end. Has to be a top string - fat ones aren't much good. |
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20 Jul 07 - 02:01 PM (#2107714) Subject: RE: New uses for old string? From: Big Al Whittle cheese cutting.....the guitarist might not have been in the habit of washing his hands after going to the toilet. |