waxing mains with gut

[Jay Welvaert]

Hey, I have heard that most of you wax the mains when you are stringing gut. I am just about to string my first pack of gut in about 2 hours. Is there any around the house item that would work in waxing the mains because I dont have time to run somewhere to get special wax. Also what does waxing the mains do?


Thanks, Jay

 

[Eug]

Any wax will do. Waxing the mains helps the them from being "burned" or notched when stringing the crosses. Gut is a very sensitive string so take your time when stringing it. Dont pull to hard when pulling string. Make sure you dont kink the string in any place. Thats pretty much it. I use the wax my dentist gave me when I had braces a long time ago...

 

[Gaines Hillix]

Waxing the strings reduces friction when you weave and pull the crosses through the mains. The better gut strings are coated these days, so they are not as subject to burning/fraying while stringing as they used to be. Waxing is more of a precaution with the better quality gut strings than a necessity, IMO. If you don't pull too fast and if you fan the crosses strings back and forth as you pull them through
you should be o.k. Take your time. Also make sure you don't kink the string or pull a loop tight on itself.

 

[bcaz]

The canning wax (Gulf) is the way to go. There may be other brands, but for three bucks, you can buy a brick that will last forever. Most big supermarkets will have it, or any store which supplies folks who can/preserve their own fruit and vegetables.