Pro Tip (maybe?): Silicone lube on NG at grommets.

[struggle]

So, I have....in the last handful of my own string jobs, been dabbing silicone lube onto/into
the grommets (and string) as i string the mains (NG mains). I use a q-tip and the silicone is a bottle, not
a spray can. So i "dropper" it onto the q-tip and apply it as the loop is coming into the grommet to tension.
Make sense?

As i normally break the NG more at/near the grommets than in the middle of the stringbed
(commence the jokes!!), i believe (maybe placebo, unsure), that this practice is increasing
my stringbed life. Grommet wear is tough on NG, generally.......IME.

Anyone ever tried such?

(I almost want to say i saw this tick mentioned here before i tried it, but can't recall for sure......)

edit: it DOES increase stringing time, but for my own frames......while i'm watching a football game
with a beer and a spliff, i dont mind!!!.....

 

[esgee48]

I don’t do the lube/qtip. But as part of inspection I will clean and wipe down all plastic parts with mineral spirit to keep plastic supple. I do maybe 5 NG jobs yearly and have never had complaint about NG snapping near grommet.

 

[struggle]

I don’t do the lube/qtip. But as part of inspection I will clean and wipe down all plastic parts with mineral spirit to keep plastic supple. I do maybe 5 NG jobs yearly and have never had complaint about NG snapping near grommet.

Does/do mineral spirits keep plastic "supple"? Interesting.

I have just noticed that more of my NG breaks are occurring at grommet bends (it seems)
and am just trying to be proactive in preventing such (as much as possible). I actually think
it is helping... but no data to support such a claim.

 

[jim e]

I have lubed the grommets for years with natural gut. Do a search and you will see multiple posts I made. I use tri flo a Teflon lube, does not attract dust or dirt. This does help nat gut snapping at grommet. If you mis hit a shot, it may not break at that hit, but be weak because of that hit, and later find out it snapped in the bag, and you forgot about that mis hit. The lube does work.
I just placed a small drop on a very small micro brush, and apply to all the main string grommets, as it doesn't take much. Once done, you will be set for a bit of restring without doing it again for a while. Only downside is the need to clean up everything when done.

 

[struggle]

I have lubed the grommets for years with natural gut. Do a search and you will see multiple posts I made. I use tri flo a Teflon lube, does not attract dust or dirt. This does help nat gut snapping at grommet. If you mis hit a shot, it may not break at that hit, but be weak because of that hit, and later find out it snapped in the bag, and you forgot about that mis hit. The lube does work.
I just placed a small drop on a very small micro brush, and apply to all the main string grommets, as it doesn't take much. Once done, you will be set for a bit of restring without doing it again for a while. Only downside is the need to clean up everything when done.

YES....I've seen your prior post (i was referring to, i guess....). Didn't look hard for it, but just started doing it standard for my gut jobs
in the last year or two.

I found 3-in-1 brand silicone in bottle form. I used to used Tri-flo many years ago on my bike but in spray can.

Same difference i think, and i even started with a spray can i had laying around, but then went to the bottle.

I fully believe that it helps in a NG job.

 

[esgee48]

Plastic turns brittle from outgassing and UV exposure. I can’t say that the mineral spirits or petroleum products revitalize the plastic but it does change shade when the stuff is applied. I remove grease and sticky residue with it and the results seem to help the plastic remain pliable. This is part of my stringing procedure since the 1980’s.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-ive been using any and/or readily available lube/cream on the tie off ports where the gut has to go into a shared/tie.off location
-anything and everything to reduce the strain on the NG string
-ive also been "lubeing/greasing" questionable grommet spots, where premature breakage has occurred
-teflon tubing i use most, when grommet hole is in question

-i do try to be sparingly with the LUBE, as it will gunk up my machine tension head
-cleaning of the tension head and/or other machine parts will be needed

 

[LOBALOT]

I must admit I don't do anything. I string about 60 gut/poly hybrids a year and I really just string them up without issue at the grommets.

I am not a string breaker and do wish my own gut/poly racquets lasted longer. Lately I have been stringing at lower tensions and I get about 3 weeks out of a setup until the ball tends to fly on me. I am not sure if it is the cross giving up on me or if it is the gut and it would benefit from something slippery added/sprayed on it.

 

[graycrait]

I've used this stuff with some success on syn gut/poly, syn gut, nat gut and I suspect very similar to Tri-Flow. For a time I used Tri-Flow on firearms back some years ago.

 

[jim e]

Dupont also has similar product called non stick, a Teflon spray. I prefer the tri flo (Teflon) ,in small needle point applicator, and just place a very small drop on a small round microfiber brush that fits in the grommet. Makes it easier and not a mess