Natural gut (Gaucho) and bacon fat
- Thread starter rogernext
- Start date
Supracool94
Semi-Pro
That's cool if the bacon fat worked for you, but I not sure if I would feel comfortable getting that stuff all over my machine, Wise Linear Ball Gripper, clamps, and racquet.
I would also fear that my racquet would smell like a "BLT" after I was done!
Candle wax worked for me, but it was a little messy, but a little canned air took care of that. I think bacon fat would he harder to clean off?
I would also fear that my racquet would smell like a "BLT" after I was done!
Candle wax worked for me, but it was a little messy, but a little canned air took care of that. I think bacon fat would he harder to clean off?
Bacon fat or regular fat
Yeah, you r right. the racket smells like a subway sandwich. I will probably try to microwave some lard next time. no smell with lard. I did this on the strung gaucho. as u know the strings get dry and fray. So this won't mess up the machines and clamps. olive oil works for me too. but animal fat rule!
Yeah, you r right. the racket smells like a subway sandwich. I will probably try to microwave some lard next time. no smell with lard. I did this on the strung gaucho. as u know the strings get dry and fray. So this won't mess up the machines and clamps. olive oil works for me too. but animal fat rule!
Supracool94
Semi-Pro
I know what you mean about the Gaucho, I had to keep rubbing a candle on the mains to wax them, (Under and on top of the string bed)!
Supracool94
Semi-Pro
I would recommend using candle wax, any kind of oil could make the string too slippery and make your clamps slip. Candle wax wipes right off, and has zero negative effects on the string.
diredesire
Adjunct Moderator
Yeah, conditioning the string is common with oils, baby oil, olive oil, etc.
During the stringing process, i recommend using "Paraffin" wax, available in your local grocery store, in the canning section. Using candle wax can be highly variable. As far as clamp slippage, the wax is going to get caked in their one way or another, so use a very light coating
During the stringing process, i recommend using "Paraffin" wax, available in your local grocery store, in the canning section. Using candle wax can be highly variable. As far as clamp slippage, the wax is going to get caked in their one way or another, so use a very light coating
Supracool94
Semi-Pro
Yeah, conditioning the string is common with oils, baby oil, olive oil, etc.
During the stringing process, i recommend using "Paraffin" wax, available in your local grocery store, in the canning section. Using candle wax can be highly variable. As far as clamp slippage, the wax is going to get caked in their one way or another, so use a very light coating
Why would conditioning of the string be necessary? I'm curious, as I have never done this when using gut.
Supracool94
Semi-Pro
Yeah, conditioning the string is common with oils, baby oil, olive oil, etc.
During the stringing process, i recommend using "Paraffin" wax, available in your local grocery store, in the canning section. Using candle wax can be highly variable. As far as clamp slippage, the wax is going to get caked in their one way or another, so use a very light coating
I only ran the candle up and down the mains (not the crosses), and very little wax got into the clamps. I will give the Paraffin wax a shot!
Sangria Munky
Rookie
don't you ppl find it difficult to spin the ball after mopisturizer is added?
schenkelini
Semi-Pro
ryangoring
Professional
To double DD and Jim-e, what about the lipgloss? I remember from YULITLE that you can use this for the use with a pathfinderawl. Can the same lipgloss wax be used on gut strings as well to produce the same as candle wax and stuff?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
diredesire
Adjunct Moderator
Sorry, have been a little busy lately..
It's not "necessary," per se, but it is common to keep the gut from 'drying out,' and/or getting brittle, which does happen. However, IMHO, it's blown a little out of proportion. I don't do it, either, but if you insist on doing so, I would wager that olive/baby oil is more suitable versus bacon fat...
It's not that big of a deal, but Paraffin is cheap, and it's nice to have around if you ever need it
Chapstick sure ain't the same thing as lip gloss, just to clarify. I'd shy away from using a chapstick directly on the strings, though. It'd produce much of the same effect, surely, but chapstick may have additives that keep it very soft, and the lubricity might be higher, something that you might want to shy away from (for nothing else besides the weaving). I would only use the chapstick trick for blocked holes, weaving with chapstick would be a nightmare for poly, IMHO.
using bacon is a lot easier than you think. basically, u take a 1/2 penny size bacon (fatty part) squeeze it with ur thumb and index finger, apply the oil on the gut. it's simple, not too messy. another method i use is olive oil. u can dip a paper towel in olive oil, apply the oil and then use a clean paper towel to suck up excess oil. it's simple, clean, and easy on the balls.
it makes the string shiny looking too. i usually break syn guts every 3 days. but w/ string savers and oil, my gut/poly is still doing well after i strung them on 8/24. i also leave the racket in the car and the heat hasn't killed the gut yet.
it makes the string shiny looking too. i usually break syn guts every 3 days. but w/ string savers and oil, my gut/poly is still doing well after i strung them on 8/24. i also leave the racket in the car and the heat hasn't killed the gut yet.
ryangoring
Professional
Sorry, have been a little busy lately..
It's not "necessary," per se, but it is common to keep the gut from 'drying out,' and/or getting brittle, which does happen. However, IMHO, it's blown a little out of proportion. I don't do it, either, but if you insist on doing so, I would wager that olive/baby oil is more suitable versus bacon fat...
It's not that big of a deal, but Paraffin is cheap, and it's nice to have around if you ever need it
Chapstick sure ain't the same thing as lip gloss, just to clarify. I'd shy away from using a chapstick directly on the strings, though. It'd produce much of the same effect, surely, but chapstick may have additives that keep it very soft, and the lubricity might be higher, something that you might want to shy away from (for nothing else besides the weaving). I would only use the chapstick trick for blocked holes, weaving with chapstick would be a nightmare for poly, IMHO.
yeah I meant chapstick, the word was eluding me.
So what is best to use when do the crosses when using gut. I have a set that I want try out, never used gut before, so I am just ing asking for some TT advice
You know if you are careful, you don't really need to use anything. I don't use wax or anything else, but again I use a quality gut string, usually VS gut. But even years ago, back in the 60's, I strung a lot of nat. gut back then, and the gut was not coated like todays, and I still never used anything on the strings as all that was needed was to be careful with what you were doing, especially being careful with the last 2 cross strings so they did not untwist on you.This way you don't get anything covering your machine, or getting into your clamps, and you will not have all that to clean up.The wax is really not necessary. If you want to wax them to help you, and clean that all up thats fine, but it is more important to pay attention to what you are doing than use wax, or anything else for that matter.
ryangoring
Professional
Jim_e as usual, always a pleasure to have your input.
Thanks, I'll definitely do that.
I got some of the global stuff, never used any type of gut, kind weird to start with this instead of the VS or other big names.
Thanks, I'll definitely do that.
I got some of the global stuff, never used any type of gut, kind weird to start with this instead of the VS or other big names.
ryangoring: I don't know much about the Global, other than what is posted here, and a couple years ago on another site. People reported the string snapping either during stringing, or in the case before they even hit with it, or shortly after hitting with it. Even a couple years ago the company was giving away that gut as samples for players to try, and they had problems with it. Therefore I am staying away from that string for now. It is possible that some stringers were attempting to string gut for the 1st time, and were careless with it while stringing it but, as some reported that they received it dry and brittle. I know the quality I get with VS gut, and it still can be had at the old price here at TW as you just have to find it elsewhere and they do price match.At this time, I don't want to risk stringing that gut(Global, or Gaucho), for my clients, as that can be reflected on me if there is a problem. I will wait it out and see how it does in the long run with some posters here for now, as it seems like there is a following with this string with a # of people here.Even years ago, with Victor Imperial, and Bow Brand there was not much an issue with stringing it, and with good brands like VS gut now, its a breeze to string up.
Court Valkyrie
Banned
I just looked at this thread...can someone explain to me what you are doing with bacon and candles and stuff? I'm not a string genius, so a little insight would be awesome.
ryangoring
Professional
Yeah, I should have started with the VS and other big names first.
Just a first for me. Eventually I will get the VS and try them out.
Have you tried them out? (global and gaucho)
