[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
Thanks again to everyone who responded, even Martin and Matthew, who seem to mistake me for someone who can be trusted with sharp objects. I widened the holes that needed it, and in the process discovered a really good local tool store that had an assortment of small drill bits. To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
If the distance between the hole and the top of the lute is too small for your pin vice, you can mount a drill bit in a piece of 1/4" dowel - just use the bit to drill a hole in the dowel and superglue it in. If you use a dowel at least 6" long your twiddling hand is well clear of the lute and you can judge easily how straight you're drilling. Martin --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
Powdered graphite is often used to keep strings from binding in guitar
nuts, so that could be an option, but given that lute soundboards are
usually unfinished I'd be concerned that it could spill out and
discolor the top
On Fri, Jun 29, 2018 at 1:21 PM howard posner
<[1]howardpos...@ca.rr.com> wrote:
Thanks for the responses. I have owned a pin vise for decades, but
don't actually have any bits that fit it, which is a measure of my
cowardice in the face of doing anything that permanently alters the
instrument.
Matthew, is there a particular reason for not lubricating the
string, other than "it won't work"? Will it harm the bridge, or
make it harder to enlarge the hole?
On Jun 29, 2018, at 12:37 PM, guy_and_liz Smith
<[2]guy_and_...@msn.com> wrote:
> I enlarged a couple of bridge holes on my old Larry Brown, which
was apparently drilled for relatively thin wound basses and couldn't
accommodate larger gut strings. I used what's called a pin vise to
hold the drill (standard item in machine shops), with some tape on
the top to protect it from the vise. Then just gently spin the pin
vise with your fingers to drill out the hole. The main trick is
finding a vice that's skinny enough to handle the spacing between
hole and top.
> -Original Message-
> From: [3]lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu
[mailto:[4]lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew Daillie
> Sent: Friday, June 29, 2018 11:50 AM
> To: lutelist Net
> Subject: [LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
>
>
> Enlarging the bridge holes can be very straight forward with the
> appropriate tools (I can send you a photo of the tools I use if
you're
> interested).
To get on or off this list see list information at
[5]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
--
References
1. mailto:howardpos...@ca.rr.com
2. mailto:guy_and_...@msn.com
3. mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu
4. mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu
5. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
Has anyone ever tried re-drilling the holes to lower the action? How might one do that without removing the bridge? A. John Mardinly, Ph.D., P.E. On Jun 29, 2018, at 12:37 PM, guy_and_liz Smith <[1]guy_and_...@msn.com> wrote: I enlarged a couple of bridge holes on my old Larry Brown, which was apparently drilled for relatively thin wound basses and couldn't accommodate larger gut strings. I used what's called a pin vise to hold the drill (standard item in machine shops), with some tape on the top to protect it from the vise. Then just gently spin the pin vise with your fingers to drill out the hole. The main trick is finding a vice that's skinny enough to handle the spacing between hole and top. Here's one example of a pin vise: [2]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.amazon.c om_Starrett-2D162A-2DVise-2D0-2D0-2D040-2DRange_dp_B06Y5SG9LD_ref-3D sr-5F1-5F6-3Fs-3Dhi-26ie-3DUTF8-26qid-3D1530300625-26sr-3D1-2D6-26ke ywords-3Dpin-2Bvise=DwIFaQ=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuK y6zbqQ=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E=o18tltRbhed6j CjqKxpJAhCot28OtiG0dJ2bafjczwY=VkMbfG1-1rjLpHg35Z1_NPV0P7ozNZteRfj QLWQdI3Q= Guy -Original Message- From: [3]lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [[4]mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew Daillie Sent: Friday, June 29, 2018 11:50 AM To: lutelist Net Subject: [LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes? Hi Howard, Even in relatively dry climates gut somehow manages to absorb humidity and swell over time. Personally I would try to avoid lubricating the strings. Have you tried cutting the end at an angle to slip it through? You could probably also gently sand the last 5 mm or so of the end of the string with some very fine emery paper without the risk of fraying or weakening. Enlarging the bridge holes can be very straight forward with the appropriate tools (I can send you a photo of the tools I use if you're interested). Best, Matthew On 29/06/2018 19:14, howard posner wrote: I reconfigure the stringing on my archlute from time to time, which involves moving some extension strings so that, e.g. the 8th course becomes the 12th for one stringing B, then gets moved back for stringing A. I now find that couple of gut extension strings won't fit through bridge holes that they always fit through before. I tried blow-drying the string ends, on the assumption that they had swelled with humidity (not a sound assumption where I live), without success. So now, if I don't want to string the whole instrument lighter, it seems I have two options: widening the bridge holes or lubricating the string ends. I'd like to try lubricating first. Does anyone have experience with string lube jobs? What do you use? To get on or off this list see list information at [5]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__eur03.safeli nks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttp-3A-252F-252Fwww.cs.dartmout h.edu-252F-7Ewbc-252Flute-2Dadmin-252Findex.html-26data-3D02-257C01- 257C-257C1c0cd246441345bb1e8408d5ddf13779-257C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aa aa-257C1-257C0-257C636658950444650467-26sdata-3DkNJclNqJmJgD eC5C5VeNawW0K5F7LzF-252FTJcgosQSnHQ-253D-26reserved-3D0=DwIFaQ=l 45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvx MmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E=o18tltRbhed6jCjqKxpJAhCot28OtiG0dJ2bafjczwY =jBrUoVSMUtmITLVDRIEt0FwUXuBrRJuRD8BNz-sI1r4= --- Cet email a fait l'objet d'une analyse antivirus par AVG. https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__eur03.safelinks .protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttp-253A-252F-252Fwww.avg.com-26da ta-3D02-257C01-257C-257C1c0cd246441345bb1e8408d5ddf13779-257C84df9e7 fe9f640afb435-257C1-257C0-257C636658950444650467-26sdata -3DPGsIilT0PmX6gfDMlgC0gUGdDH9ZVMB4X44c4eNop4g-253D-26reserved-3D0 =DwIFaQ=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ=VLPJ8OE-c_C6 joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E=o18tltRbhed6jCjqKxpJAhCot28OtiG0dJ 2bafjczwY=aPk23Gxhx_SXUE8QFk5CxDaIW_ptRxS1TcThZZUk3Vc= References 1. mailto:guy_and_...@msn.com 2. https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.amazon.com_Starrett-2D162A-2DVise-2D0-2D0-2D040- 3. mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu 4. mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu 5. https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttp-3A-252F-252Fwww.cs.dartmouth.edu-252F-
[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
Any liquid lubricant might cause the wood and/or the gut to swell, which isn't going to help. Maybe graphite? I use that to lubricate the nut without ill effect on either gut or synthetic strings. Guy -Original Message- From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew Daillie Sent: Friday, June 29, 2018 2:11 PM To: lutelist Net Subject: [LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes? On 29/06/2018 22:21, howard posner wrote: > Matthew, is there a particular reason for not lubricating the string, other > than “it won’t work”? Will it harm the bridge, or make it harder to enlarge > the hole? I'm just concerned that whatever you use is going to seep into the wood of the bridge and possibly get onto the soundboard. Sometimes the ill-effects of substances used are only seen in the long term (such as linseed oil ageing badly on tops and going all yellowy). It's probably best to ask a string maker what they use to lubricate gut and then check with your lutemaker that no harm will be done. Best, Matthew To get on or off this list see list information at https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http:%2F%2Fwww.cs.dartmouth.edu%2F~wbc%2Flute-admin%2Findex.html=02%7C01%7C%7C65bd8aa8430841b9a3b708d5de04df79%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C636659034883195059=ZlWXy7G0HttH7D6fOqODu95ba%2FQD7MaOcH9PQIuBOYo%3D=0
[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
On 29/06/2018 22:21, howard posner wrote: Matthew, is there a particular reason for not lubricating the string, other than “it won’t work”? Will it harm the bridge, or make it harder to enlarge the hole? I'm just concerned that whatever you use is going to seep into the wood of the bridge and possibly get onto the soundboard. Sometimes the ill-effects of substances used are only seen in the long term (such as linseed oil ageing badly on tops and going all yellowy). It's probably best to ask a string maker what they use to lubricate gut and then check with your lutemaker that no harm will be done. Best, Matthew To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
Thanks for the responses. I have owned a pin vise for decades, but don’t actually have any bits that fit it, which is a measure of my cowardice in the face of doing anything that permanently alters the instrument. Matthew, is there a particular reason for not lubricating the string, other than “it won’t work”? Will it harm the bridge, or make it harder to enlarge the hole? On Jun 29, 2018, at 12:37 PM, guy_and_liz Smith wrote: > I enlarged a couple of bridge holes on my old Larry Brown, which was > apparently drilled for relatively thin wound basses and couldn't accommodate > larger gut strings. I used what's called a pin vise to hold the drill > (standard item in machine shops), with some tape on the top to protect it > from the vise. Then just gently spin the pin vise with your fingers to drill > out the hole. The main trick is finding a vice that's skinny enough to handle > the spacing between hole and top. > -Original Message- > From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf > Of Matthew Daillie > Sent: Friday, June 29, 2018 11:50 AM > To: lutelist Net > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes? > > > Enlarging the bridge holes can be very straight forward with the > appropriate tools (I can send you a photo of the tools I use if you're > interested). To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
I enlarged a couple of bridge holes on my old Larry Brown, which was apparently drilled for relatively thin wound basses and couldn't accommodate larger gut strings. I used what's called a pin vise to hold the drill (standard item in machine shops), with some tape on the top to protect it from the vise. Then just gently spin the pin vise with your fingers to drill out the hole. The main trick is finding a vice that's skinny enough to handle the spacing between hole and top. Here's one example of a pin vise: https://www.amazon.com/Starrett-162A-Vise-0-0-040-Range/dp/B06Y5SG9LD/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi=UTF8=1530300625=1-6=pin+vise Guy -Original Message- From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew Daillie Sent: Friday, June 29, 2018 11:50 AM To: lutelist Net Subject: [LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes? Hi Howard, Even in relatively dry climates gut somehow manages to absorb humidity and swell over time. Personally I would try to avoid lubricating the strings. Have you tried cutting the end at an angle to slip it through? You could probably also gently sand the last 5 mm or so of the end of the string with some very fine emery paper without the risk of fraying or weakening. Enlarging the bridge holes can be very straight forward with the appropriate tools (I can send you a photo of the tools I use if you're interested). Best, Matthew On 29/06/2018 19:14, howard posner wrote: > I reconfigure the stringing on my archlute from time to time, which involves > moving some extension strings so that, e.g. the 8th course becomes the 12th > for one stringing B, then gets moved back for stringing A. > > I now find that couple of gut extension strings won’t fit through bridge > holes that they always fit through before. I tried blow-drying the string > ends, on the assumption that they had swelled with humidity (not a sound > assumption where I live), without success. > > So now, if I don’t want to string the whole instrument lighter, it seems I > have two options: > widening the bridge holes or lubricating the string ends. I’d like to try > lubricating first. > > Does anyone have experience with string lube jobs? What do you use? > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http:%2F%2Fwww.cs.dartmouth.edu%2F~wbc%2Flute-admin%2Findex.html=02%7C01%7C%7C1c0cd246441345bb1e8408d5ddf13779%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C636658950444650467=kNJclNqJmJgDeC5C5VeNawW0K5F7LzF%2FTJcgosQSnHQ%3D=0 > > --- > Cet email a fait l'objet d'une analyse antivirus par AVG. > https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avg.com=02%7C01%7C%7C1c0cd246441345bb1e8408d5ddf13779%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C636658950444650467=PGsIilT0PmX6gfDMlgC0gUGdDH9ZVMB4X44c4eNop4g%3D=0 > >
[LUTE] Re: Lubricating string ends/bridge holes?
Hi Howard, Even in relatively dry climates gut somehow manages to absorb humidity and swell over time. Personally I would try to avoid lubricating the strings. Have you tried cutting the end at an angle to slip it through? You could probably also gently sand the last 5 mm or so of the end of the string with some very fine emery paper without the risk of fraying or weakening. Enlarging the bridge holes can be very straight forward with the appropriate tools (I can send you a photo of the tools I use if you're interested). Best, Matthew On 29/06/2018 19:14, howard posner wrote: I reconfigure the stringing on my archlute from time to time, which involves moving some extension strings so that, e.g. the 8th course becomes the 12th for one stringing B, then gets moved back for stringing A. I now find that couple of gut extension strings won’t fit through bridge holes that they always fit through before. I tried blow-drying the string ends, on the assumption that they had swelled with humidity (not a sound assumption where I live), without success. So now, if I don’t want to string the whole instrument lighter, it seems I have two options: widening the bridge holes or lubricating the string ends. I’d like to try lubricating first. Does anyone have experience with string lube jobs? What do you use? To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --- Cet email a fait l'objet d'une analyse antivirus par AVG. http://www.avg.com
