Try to always use a suspended powder (eg. Soft pencil lead and suspended teflon powder) . An art pencil works well for graphite and Neil Brook's "slippy stuff" is good for teflon. Always apply the graphite/teflon with the head pointed down so it does not want to drift toward the wheel.
Scott Zach Most <[email protected]> wrote: >My current string came with the instrument, and has been played on for about 6 >months. > So graphite- do you guys use a powdered graphite, or is just rubbing on the >key with the side of a soft pencil a better choice? Seems like it would be >more >controllable, but I don't have a feel for the quality of that graphite for >making the keys slide better. > The warning about teflon is forboding. What does it do to the wheel? I've >seen folks selling a liquid suspended teflon. Does that just reduce the risk >of >the dust getting on the wheel? > Zach > > > > >________________________________ >From: Scott Gayman <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Wed, April 13, 2011 10:26:08 PM >Subject: Re: [HG-new] When to replace a string, how to clean the wheel, >dealing >with sticking, dust, playing advice... > >So many questions, but all good ones. > >How old is your current string? You should replace a string whenever you feel >it >necessary, but usually, for the nonprofessional, every 6 months or more >depending on use and wear. > >You really don't need to clean the wheel. Bows are hair and require much more >care than a wheel so "cleaning" them is not really a necessity. However, if >you >do get finger oils on the wheel, the fast repair is to lightly clean the wheel >with an alcohol wipe (the medical type not the hand wipes which may contain >aloe >or some other oil) and then wait for it to dry. The instrument will sound >really >rapsy for a bit but it will return to normal shortly. Remember to avoid >getting >the wipe on the finish and you are just removing the surface oil not trying to >scrub wheel. > >As for sanding, make sure you do so lightly and only enough to remove the >problem. > > >Use a clean cotton clothe to get the dust off the instrument. Never use a >solvent or an alcohol on the instrument. You could destroy the finish or >soften >the glue (although this is much less likely then damaging the finish) . > >Start with graphite and work your way to sanding. Remember that the keys swell >as the weather changes. Also, don't use powdered teflon in a way that it can >get >on the wheel, Alden refers to it as "wheel death" for a reason. > >You are on the right track and asking good questions. The videos also help for >diagnosing playing issues. > > >I concur with the others about your right hand. I often tell people that the >action of rolling your arm back that far is unnatural and your bodies reaction >is to break the wrist and bend it around. The action of bending the wrist >makes >playing the coups much more difficult or impossible. Keep your wrist straight >and use your fingers and arm to get the coups. > > >Keep asking questions, > >Scott > >Zach Most <[email protected]> wrote: > >>Forgive the rookie questions (that may be answered in Doreen Muskett's book)- >>Short of it breaking, how do you know when to replace a string? I have two >>that >> >>are just getting quieter and quieter, despite re-doing the cotton and playing >>with rosin. How many hours of playing do your gut strings typically last? >> >>What do you recommend for cleaning the wheel? I've read you can take 600 >>grit >>sand paper to it without doing much harm, but I've been hesitant to use >>anything >> >>but a soft, clean cloth so far. What if you get a little oil on it? Are >>there > >>any solvents you can use to get it off without damaging anything? >> >>I'm seeing a buildup of fine dust on the soundboard around the wheel. It's >>the > >>color of my cotton, so I'm guessing that's where it's coming from. Is there >>an > >>easy and safe way to clean that up? >> >>I have just one key that sticks every once in a while. Would you guys use >>teflon powder on that, use graphite, or give it a light sanding? Something >>else? >> >>Is it acceptable to ask for playing advice here too? I posted a video on >>youtube: >> >>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgh9Ddu1HWc There's a lot to learn, but I'm >>enjoying the instrument so far. Getting all the different coups down has >>been >>surprisingly difficult. I've watched some videos on them, but I'm still >>having > >>trouble getting them remotely as clean or consistent as the experts. Any >>advice >> >>on how to get the knack? >> >> Zach >> >>-- >>You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>Groups "hurdygurdy" group. >>To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>[email protected] >>For more options, visit this group at >>http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy >> >>The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at >>http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from new >>subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster. > >-- >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >Groups "hurdygurdy" group. >To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >[email protected] >For more options, visit this group at >http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy > >The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at >http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from new >subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster. > > > > > >-- >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >Groups "hurdygurdy" group. >To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >[email protected] >For more options, visit this group at >http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy > >The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at >http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from new >subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hurdygurdy" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster.
