Why did my bowhair go haywire?

Subject: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Melissa
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 03:09 AM

I hadn't opened my fiddle cases for at least a year and when I decided to tune one up last night, I found that two of my bows had sprung hair all over the place. The two in another case were fine.

The cases were side by side and neither was exposed to extreme weather/temperature changes or any type of rough treatment.
The bows that got hairy are regular horsehair, the ones that didn't change at all are mongolian.

What might have caused them to get so furry?

Thanks,
M

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 03:11 AM

The stuff does age, but maybe it might have been something to do with humidity problems, maybe too low humidity.

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: s&r
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 04:20 AM

Bowhair mites can be a problem. Tick repellent sprays will get rid of them.

Stu

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 04:24 AM

Try Brylcreem - a little dab'll do ya....

er, sorry...
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: open mike
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 03:05 PM

bow hair is the favorite food of carpet beetle larvae..
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-352415.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Bow-Bugs
http://www.johnsonstring.com/Bitten%20By%20Bug.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Whats-Eating-Your-Violin-Bow-Hair?--It-Might-Be-Bow-Bugs&id=2461787
http://www.bekkerviolins.com/drupal/comment/reply/241
http://www.bekkerviolins.com/drupal/sites/default/files/imagepicker/a/Albertus%20Bekker/CarpetBeetleLarva.jpg - here is the culprit
it leaves it's little exo-skeleton when it sheds it...vacuum these up@
http://www.theviolinsite.com/violin_care_guide/bow_care.html

they like wool, silk, hair,fur and natural and animal fibers.

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 03:14 PM

It could also be a poor job of rehairing. Have you had them rehaired, lately, some or any of them? I have one that an elderly man rehaired, after he was past his prime as a repairman. Sadly, it has not lasted at all. I opened it the other night and by the time I took out all of the loose ones, I had enough for a small pony's tail!

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Melissa
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 05:11 PM

Bow cooties?!
ICK!


(no little shells and my silk is fine..so maybe not larvae)
If it's some sort of bugs, I'll find out when I use the bows again because the remaining hair will be brittle?
Mites would leave shells or crumbs or something too, right?

Neither of them were haired recently.
They didn't look like they came loose from the glue..looked like the hair actually broke..but I didn't look closely. It surprised me when I opened the case and thought my fiddle had started making a cocoon.
Probably about 25-30 loose hairs between the two. I want to use one of them and when I clean them up, I'll see where they broke. It was strange to open the case and see all that hair laying across the strings!

Do horse and mongolian use the same glue?



Brylcreem, Joe?
I'm a Dapper Dan man..

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 05:14 PM

See, horses that are outdoors in the wintertime get much hairier. There is your explanation. :)

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Melissa
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 05:47 PM

I bet that's it, Ebbie!
How did I manage to forget all about Winter Hairiness?!

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 06:25 PM

Did you forget to loosen the frog?

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

A nip or two .... now and then .... can get them a bit tight.

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 06:31 PM

Perhaps your bow hair needs conditioner ....

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Melissa
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 06:32 PM

frogs were loose..

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Melissa
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 06:40 PM

You know, Ft, I donate my hair every year or two..maybe my bows are just trying to get me to take them next time I visit the beautician?

That idea is a lot nicer than thinking about Bow Cooties!

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 07:02 PM

Oh No! The Frogs are loose!


Run for the hills!

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Melissa
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 07:44 PM

Isn't there an ancient prophecy about that, Ft?
I can't remember exactly how it goes, but isn't it something like:


When geese will southerly go
and frogs hide tight in their winter-holes
Then, beasthair within walls will go wild

Subject: RE: Why did my bowhair go haywire?
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 08:28 PM

Oh, wow. You're right. (Sounds ancient too)