BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 08:25 PM

WW - still not trying to flirt with you, but

:-D again

Joerg

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: JenEllen
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 09:43 PM

Hard as Nails is great stuff Wyo. Smells horrible, but works great and comes off easier than acrylic! BTW: I second Joerg's :D

~Elle

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: WyoWoman
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 11:23 PM

Thanks for the :-Ds Very cheery ...

ww

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: GUEST,Paul G on the road
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 12:43 PM

Richard Gilewitz tells a great story while he re-tunes between songs...The hardest substance actually known to man are the remnants of your morning corn flakes left in the bottom of the bowl when the milk dries... so he suggests dipping a corn flake in milk until soggy, then applying it over your nail and wait till it dries. Hardest nails on the planet...Personally, I use a fine fiberglass mesh fabric strip available at beautician supply stores applied with good old Krazy Glue, filed and shaped on my index and middle fingers, and use my natural thumb nail (no thumb pick -- never liked them)...

pg

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 04:03 PM

The trouble with most finger picks is that they are only designed to go one way, and I like to be able to strum down on a string and pick up on it as well. I once had a metal pick that looked a bit like a squashed thimble that worked that way, worn on the index finger, but I lost it and I've never seen another.

The only finger picks I've found that work pretty well the same as real fingernails are Alaska picks - but they are made of such brittle plastic I've never got rhough an evening without breaking one or two, so I've given up on them. Now if you could only get them in some decent material they'd be the answer.

But glueing artificial things on my finger nails - no, that just doesn't seem a good idea to me. First step along the road to becoming a musical cyborg.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Gypsy
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:09 AM

2 Points. Margo, if your manicurist is using a dremel on the TOP of your nail, find another manicurist. That will fry your nail in a very short period of time. You only need to rough up the surface enough to lose the shine. That will let the acrylic adhere. Wyowoman, hard as nails, develope 10 etcetera, all will work. Don't use forever, cuz they harden by using formaldehyde....can make the nails so hard, that they will literally lift off of the nail bed. I've seen it happen in the past. Use up one bottle, wait a month, then you can do it again. Had a client use a hardener one time, for a year, almost lost her nails entirely.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Margo
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 02:25 PM

Gypsy, I don't understand why using the dremel will fry my nail. They don't do it much. I don't mean to be argumentative; it's just that I've never had any of the troubles with my nail that I've been warned about. I get my nail done, then when it has grown out about two thirds of the way, I get it done again. I just keep filing the front as it gets too long.

Margo

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 08:57 PM

Please excuse a question in between - what is a 'dremel'? Seems at this point we can teach something to dictionaries.

Joerg

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Gypsy
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:00 PM

Dremel is a rotary style grinder, hand held. Unless used with a very delicate touch, can erode away many layers of your nail quite rapidly. Maybe i was too ham handed...always used a foam buffing block to rough up the surface, and primed twice. Never saw any fungus. Or thin nails.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: WyoWoman
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:27 PM

McGrath -- Why are they called Alaska picks and how do they fit on your fingers?

Gypsy: I never use anything except a little Hard as Nails. A manicure, particularly long fingernails, just doesn't fit with my lifestyle. I've had a couple and I just am always schlepping bicycles in and out of bike racks and getting grease under my nails and ... generally not being very delicate about how I use my hands. I simply cannot imagine trying to live any kind of an active lifestyle with those long nails sticking off the ends of my fingers. (Colorful toes-ies, now THAT's a different story ...)

But to be able to play the guitar better ... maybe. someday. (although using a pick makes your playing easier to hear and right now, I'd rather not do that. I'll just sort of plunk around softly and sing over it so no one can tell how really inferior my playing is ...)

ww

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 11:11 PM

Thank you Gypsy - I think I can imagine what is meant. I just don't understand how somebody whose nails have enough layers to be ground away by such an instrument can complain about their weakness. Mine have only one layer. They're not too weak for guitars but surely for dremels.

Joerg

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 06:59 PM

God knows why they are called Alaska Piks, Wyo - the people who make them are in Idaho it seems. Maybe they moved or something.

Anyway, here is the Alaska Pik website, with pictures showing how they work - and it appears that they have both upgraded the plastic, and produced a brass version. I haven't seen either of these, and I'd be grateful if anyone could tell me if they work all right, before I go ordering some across the Atlantic.

But they are in principle a brilliant bit of design, and properly fitted really do feel like you've suddenly grown the fingernails you've always wanted to have, and that especially goes for the thumb, because it means a more natural angle for striking strings with than an ordinary thuymb pick. But with the only version I've seen previously the plastic was horrible brittle stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: WyoWoman
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:14 PM

Thanks, McGrath. I checked it out and there are no prices listed, so I emailed and will find out. If I get some, I'll let you know what I think of them.

WW

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Dee45
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:22 PM

Thing is, with Alaska Piks (and I have a set of plastic ones), they are NOT a substitute for fingernails. You need to have fingernails to begin with, in order for the piks to be anchored, and it is the fingernail which holds it in place. If you have weak, or soft fingernails, they're a great substitute, and take about 15 minutes to get used to. But without fingernails, they'll move around and fly off of your fingertips when playing. If you just fingerpick normal travis style they work well, but if you are into single string runs, or two-fingered flat-picking runs, you'd best stick with metal Nationals.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 12:49 AM

Two words ... ALASKA PICKS. They are the greatest invention since sliced bread. Have always fingerpicked with bare fingers. I pick hard, so there's no trouble hearing the guitar strings, but it can also cause nasty blisters on my pickin' hand. Tried several times to use regular fingerpicks, to no avail.

Ordered Alaska Picks from musiciansfriend.com @ $1.99 each. They fit over the top of your finger and under your fingernail. They can be clipped and filed to accommodate whatever your picking position is, i.e., from the side or straight on. I ordered mediums and they feel a little tight, but there is a tension strip which can be cut to make the pick less stiff. I'm going to wait a few days to see if they loosen on their own.

Also, rather than a regular thumbpick, I'm using the Alaska Pick on my thumb, as well as my fingers.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Rob the Ranter
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 02:38 AM

I try to keep my nails just long enough to catch the strings. Still, I garden frequently and they break anyway. The solution for me was a product by OPI called Nail Envy and it is pretty low sheen. I recently noticed that they make a matte version too.

It's funny I often see people staring puzzeldly at my picking hand trying to figure out why a large short haired bearded man has such pretty finger nails. With out ranting too much, I find it amusing to upset peoples notions of masculinity and femininity. They jump to conclusions and get their nickers in a twist because of their own hang ups. But then some guys like their nickers in a twist so I say go for the French manicure and have a good laugh at others expense.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 08:47 AM

I suffer from soft and thin nails on my picking hand. As I stated above, I use a nail strengthener to get them out to a length suitable for me to use Alaska Pics. I love the Alaska Pics, and have the brass and plastic. I usually file them to approximate the fingernail itself. This means that I take out a bit on the sides so that I get the same shape as the nail. I also buy them in a 20 pack and get a bit of a break on the cost. Kevin, I will bet you would like these picks.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Bugsy
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 08:52 PM

Well it's now 2 months down the line since I had the acrylic nails built onto my own and I must report that they are GREAT! I've had the growth area filled once and am about to have them done again. They haven't broken or chipped once and neither have they worn down no matter how much or how hard I have played with them.

I've also managed to do away with the old thumb pick (took me a week of solid practice, but well worth the effort), and I find that they give me a new confidence when playing in public.(I know I'm not going to chip or break a nail during a gig).

I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone who has problems with worn, chipped, soft or brittle nails.

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 09:01 PM

Bugsy, I am not a guitar player, but am a sometimes harper. Do you have to shape them specifically to play? Any comments from the females in the shop about a guy getting false nails?

Be careful though. Acrylics and the glue they use can cause erosion and fungus of the nail bed. Big problems then. Just don't paint them pink, OK?

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Bugsy
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 09:27 PM

Sorcha, if you read back over the thread, you'll see that they aren't glued on nails. They are built onto your own nail by using a resin and a liquid which is applied by using a brush. The nail is built up in layers over your existing nail. The girls in the shop don't have a problem with it. They seem to do a lot of muso's nails.

The acrylic is clear so it looks like your own nail. The only thing you have to get them to do is to file down the thickness a little as they can tend to be a little bulky if you leave them to their own divices.

Once they are on, you can shape them with an emery board just as you would your own.

They're great!

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 10:18 PM

I just recently got one of those nails that they build like Bugsy was describing. I am very, very happy with it so far. It is a committment though because I have to go back to the manicurist about every two weeks to maintain it. Fill it in where my nail has grown at the bed, build it up again then file it down. The manicurist is careful to allow room at the nail bed for it to breath. That is were some people have run into that fungus problem.
I just love my nail! It has made all the difference in the world.
I figure on fancy occations, just for fun, I will have the manicurist paint my nail all those psychodelic colors you see on some guitar picks.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: GUEST,john hill
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 12:36 PM

Well I have been using steel finger picks for about 25 years. Recently I have grown my nails long with the intention of picking the guitar but I have to say that the quality of sound that you get does not match in any way what is achieveable with metal picks. Maybe its because the nails are soft in comparison with picks.. I dont know.. but I only do the odd song using my nails. I take calcium tablets too.. it does seem to strengthen the nails.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 07:35 PM

Have you tried the metal version Alaska picks yet, john hill? Hobgoblin are supposed to be importing some, but they haven't got there yet. But they sound like they might be good for getting a steel pick sound with the feedback you get from finger nails.

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod (at the nail salon)
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 10:29 PM

I don't know how I missed this thread first time round. I have had acrylics on my right hand thumb and first three fingers for over two years and cannot imagine playing with natural fingernails again. The difference in volume and control is incredible. As has been pointed out, you need to have them serviced every two weeks, and my nail tech recommends total removal and replacement every five months. Incidentally, it is pure acetone you soak your hands in to remove them, ordinary nail polish remover doesnt do the job. I have never had any problems of any description with these nails other than strange looks on occasion from some of my Hispanic workmates, so I have learnt to say "Yo toco guitarra, por eso tengo las ubas largas".

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 10:31 PM

That should be "unas largas" (with a squiggly thing over the "n")

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Goodbye worn and chipped fingernails!
From: Genie
Date: 02 May 02 - 05:57 AM

Lady McGoo, I'm interested in your 'superglue" tedchnigue - ant you tell me moer

Sinsull -- HJow mush calcium - and is that all?

Big Mick, where can one get "Nail Envy?" Problem I have with the Alaskas is that they are narrower than my nails, so they tend to break off my nails at the outer edges. If I choose one that has a wider "nail," it is too loose to stay on my finger.

Little Hawk, what's the name of that Sally Hansen product?

Grab, I'd love to get hold of that Onomyrrh stuff. Where can I find it?

Kat, does Reynaud's disease affect the way various nail remedies work?

My problem with finger picks is that the !@*#! thaings jes' don' stay on! I have to use a lot of band-aids and tape, and they stil come off! For some playing styles [e.g, jigs], though, they really work well. They're more problematic when I want to play very smoothly and lyrically.

My playing style[s] involve[s] both down-strumming and up-stumming, as well as plucking and pinching of individual strings. Regular fingerpicks work OK for the back-strumming/picking, and Alaska's work OK for both -- provided the picks don't break or come off.

JenEllen, thanks for the tip on Vitamin E.. What about silicone capsules? Do they help? What dosage?

Clinton H, Are you serious? Does tapping your fingers [on your cat or your toothbrush or anything else that's helpless] really strengthen them?

WyoWoman, Don't we all [and our bodies] need more love?

McGrath, I'm wit youse! My problem is that I strum both ways. [No jokes, guys!] Sometimes I've been tempted to tape on BOTH regular finger picks AND Alaska finger picks to the SAME fingers! [Your flattened thimble thingy is just what I've envisioned.} The one kind tends to come off when I downstrum and the other when I backstrum! Also, there are some songs where I want a more sustained, less staccato sound--i.e., the sound of flesh-on-string. What's a picker to do? Is there a two-sided, firmly attached, but easily removable finger pick to be had?

FWIW, I have seen Alaska-type fingerpicks made entirely of metal, but I have not used them. Maybe these are the "bronze Alaska picks" that Big Mick mentioned. Anyone else used 'em?

The next best thing would be a STRONG, FIRMLY ATTACHED SURROGATE FINGERNAIL--one that will not come off when I back-strum--so that I can use the fleshy part of my finger when the piece calls for it. Any suggestions?

(What do classical guitarists do?)

Bugsy, Thanks for the clarification on "acrylics" vs. glued-on nails.

Murray, the squiggly thing is called a "tilde," I think.

Genie

PS,
You acrylic folks, cuanto questo por maintain these acrylic nails [with shoppe visits q 2 weeks]?