Turk Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Anyone ever tried brake cleaner spray to clean strings ? It's a powerful de-greaser, and leaves no residue. Any ideas as to why it may not be the brightest idea I've had today ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 (edited) It's toxic, corrosive and dangerous. It'll strip the paint off your bass, burn your skin and damage your lungs if inhaled. Apart from that you'll be fine. Edited March 27, 2016 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 (edited) Apparently the guitar and bass techs for that Finnish band who won Eurovision a few years ago have an endorsement deal with a top manufacturer... Edited March 27, 2016 by TrevorR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 (edited) Just wipe them down down and when they start to die , do what Marlowe DK does. Loosen them and 'spank the sh*t out of them'. Works fine so long as you don't have round cores and didn't crimp when you put them on. Try it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8OYeN9mAL4 Edited March 27, 2016 by pmjos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Just buy a new set, what's the matter with you? Strings are easily the most affordable consumable when investing in bass-playing (apart from a pick, I suppose), so get your hand in your pocket you cheapskate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 It says on the can: "Removes harmfull brake dust, no dismantling required". So you'll have no trouble with brake dust and you need not take the strings off. Job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 (edited) [quote name='Turk' timestamp='1459046146' post='3013141'] Anyone ever tried brake cleaner spray to clean strings ? It's a powerful de-greaser, and leaves no residue. Any ideas as to why it may not be the brightest idea I've had today ? [/quote] That first response, in a nutshell! If you really want to deep-clean your strings, boil in clean water for 10 minutes or so. You'll see the muck floating out. Dry the strings - hang them in a warm place overnight - before refitting. While they're off you can oil the fingerboard and polish the frets for good measure. Edited March 27, 2016 by hubrad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turk Posted March 27, 2016 Author Share Posted March 27, 2016 Simmer down to a panic ! Nothing quite like a fresh set of DR Low Riders. I was just wondering, simply as a matter of interest. I've used brake cleaner for 30 odd years, usually the Wurth brand. Not only as a brake cleaner, but also for general small area/component de-greasing. Incidentally, brake cleaner is non-corrosive, and does not affect rubber seals, hoses etc. What beaut would manufacture a corrosive product for use on metal brake discs, drums and calipers ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 [quote name='Turk' timestamp='1459110792' post='3013651'] ...brake cleaner is non-corrosive, and does not affect rubber seals, hoses etc. [/quote] Yes I know, I just wanted to be sure you were safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 There is also the homeopathy approach. A gallon of spring water, just add one drop of methylated spirits. Ultrasonic cleaners also seem to shift muck out of the strings, but my flats will probably out-live me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbass Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Worked a Saturday job in the auto industry as a teen. Brake cleaner is a lovely 'carcenogenic' liquid commonly known as......trychoethylene and is used in the metal finishing industry as an aggressive degreasant. It's not corrosive but it is very nasty indeed. If you must use it do it outside and wear a mask/gloves etc... but yes better still give ur strings a plain wipe down or fit a new set instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 [quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1459174289' post='3014093'] There is also the homeopathy approach. A gallon of spring water, just add one drop of methylated spirits. [/quote] What a weak concoction! You need to make sure there is absolutely no methylated spirits within a hundred yards of it for it to have any effect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 [quote name='ians' timestamp='1459191782' post='3014326'] Worked a Saturday job in the auto industry as a teen. Brake cleaner is a lovely 'carcenogenic' liquid commonly known as......trychoethylene and is used in the metal finishing industry as an aggressive degreasant. It's not corrosive but it is very nasty indeed. If you must use it do it outside and wear a mask/gloves etc... but yes better still give ur strings a plain wipe down or fit a new set instead. [/quote] I thought 'trike' had been banned as it was nasty, remember it from years ago in my engineering apprentice days. Reckon I've had 15 cars, some done close to 200k miles and never had the need to clean the brakes! It must be one of those substances that advertisers like to sell us, completely unnecessary (like furniture polish, vaginal deodorent, toilet cleaner, snake oil.....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbass Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 [quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1459197022' post='3014403'] I thought 'trike' had been banned as it was nasty, remember it from years ago in my engineering apprentice days. Reckon I've had 15 cars, some done close to 200k miles and never had the need to clean the brakes! It must be one of those substances that advertisers like to sell us, completely unnecessary (like furniture polish, vaginal deodorent, toilet cleaner, snake oil.....) [/quote] Maybe not the brakes but it strips grease like nothing else and thats just the bloody fumes...which is how they prepare alloy bits for anodising etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 [quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1459197022' post='3014403'] ...completely unnecessary (like furniture polish, vaginal deodorent, toilet cleaner, snake oil...) [/quote] At least one of those things is very necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1459203111' post='3014469'] At least one of those things is very necessary. [/quote] Yup. Who the hell wants a dry, flaky snake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 [quote name='ians' timestamp='1459200783' post='3014439'] ....which is how they prepare alloy bits for anodising etc. [/quote] Yep that's what it was used for where I worked, on an industrial scale. We used to get bottles of the stuff (trade name 'Genklene') from the stores for cleaning small mechanical assemblies. Now banned or being phased out, an ozone destroying chemical. [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,1,1-Trichloroethane"]https://en.wikipedia...Trichloroethane[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Don't play under UV lights after using brake cleaner, that'll generate phosgene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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