Alternate uses for old strings....

[Huge Hands]

So, yesterday, I got a guy out to fix my washing machine that wouldn't drain, suspecting the pump had failed.

 

It turned out that the weird down/across/down bit of drain pipe between the washer drain and the main soil stack in the downstairs loo on the other side of the wall was blocked.

 

The guy had one of those metal tool grabbers with the plunger and 3 little grabby bits on the end, but the housing for those was too big to bend around the corners.  We tried to tip some drain cleaner in, but only got about a capful in before it got to the top.

 

I scratched my brain, and remembered I had the rounds that came with my HB PB-50 in the packet for the flats I put on it.   I got out the E-String, and was able to push through the blockage to allow me to pour more drain cleaner in. 

 

The washer is now running away happily as I type!

 

It got me thinking - has anyone else had any great alternate uses for old strings that isn't in a musical vein?   Discuss! 

[itu]

In a similar situation I managed to clean the machine of a girl that I visited a few times. We weren't a match made in heaven, but that's life. 

 

This girl had a selection of bag clips which I put to the ball end of a string. Worked exactly as wanted. 

Edited yesterday at 08:14 by itu

[Bolo]

I hung some in the Christmas tree once.

[Crusoe]

I watched a youtube video where someone made a knife from a load of old strings. I think it might have been a collaboration with Daisy Tempest.

[cetera]

I used one to garotte a former bandmate......

 

Oh, hold on...... delete! delete!

[Steve Browning]

https://www.theguitarwrist.co.uk/

 

I send mine here, but there may be other local makers who do something similar. Maybe you know someone who can do this. They don't get many from me!!

[Huge Hands]

21 minutes ago, itu said:

....I managed to clean the machine of a girl......

I think I read that as a euphemism first time around....

[Huge Hands]

2 hours ago, Steve Browning said:

https://www.theguitarwrist.co.uk/

 

I send mine here, but there may be other local makers who do something similar. Maybe you know someone who can do this. They don't get many from me!!

Ummm, I don't think they'd want the one I cleaned my drain with.....

 

EDIT - I had a proper look at that site.   Imagine buying something thinking you might be getting a bit of Noel Gallagher's finger skin on it, and you end up with Mr No-Name's greasy bacon sandwich finger marks from West Sussex lol 

Edited yesterday at 11:14 by Huge Hands

[MichaelDean]

I bought some bass string cufflinks from Etsy for my wedding a few years ago. Looks like the store is closed now though. 

 

[fleabag]

I lob mine in the bin

[synthaside]

I use them to make scale model barbed wire , to do this I wrap them round a pencil to create a coil .

 

The other solution is to keep a set of part worns in my gig bag just in case of a single breakage there's nothing worse than one brand new super bright and 3 worn in  strings.

 

 

[Huge Hands]

1 hour ago, synthaside said:

I use them to make scale model barbed wire

I feel this needs further explanation.....i.e. why?

 

I'm getting visions of someone making a model to practice their next bank job...🤣

[synthaside]

A man can have other hobbies than music right 😉 .. I assemble  and paint scale toy soldiers / make terrain .. Then myself and other adults in their 30- 40s have games against each other 😉 .

 

It's quite social we also consume beverages and converse .. or not / some people take it far too seriously when they don't win , There are also big competitive tournaments .. I don't expect to win the few I enter but I have twice done so in my years of playing .. usually doubles .. as my buddy / rhythm guitarist is far better than I.

 

It's an equally expensive hobby as music ..  or drugs ... 😉

 

 

 

 

Edited 49 minutes ago by synthaside