Violin Forum/Message Board

ollieken · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 10:25 am Post subject: Bow Hair ?

Bow hair will it wear out over time I think it`s 3 years or more since
I put it in . Lost very few hair I play it every day some times 2 Hr or more
Lately it don't have as mush grab even rosined up it . It`s only half way back in the frog travel . What is your idea on this take it out ? Just wondering Ken

Mat Roop · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:49 am Post subject:

Hi Ken.... two thoughts... others may have better ideas...
1- If there is a build up of rosin on the strings, that can have a significant effect. Clean your strings with a light scraping using 0000 steel wool, or as MD suggested in the thread just before this one, use a kitchen green scrub pad.... you will be surprised!
2-If you are using a stickier rosin such as for bass or cello, it could have consequences with rosin buildup on the hair. Personally, I have never had luck trying to clean hair, so the best bet is simply rehair.

There is common lore about scales on hair and wearing out, but I am not convinced.... I think hair simply gets saturated with dirt and and old rosin.... Others will correct me I'm sure. I use a good quality Bill Salchow rosin ... works good for me.
https://www.georgeheinl.com/products/view/bill-salchow-rosin $12 .... or you can buy it from amazon for $34... hmmm seems like on line pricing is climbing!
Cheers, Mat

L P Reedy · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 6:32 pm Post subject:

Cleaning hair is controversial, but I have seen good improvement from it. Hair can be expected to accumulate some dirt of various types that interfere with rosining. The hair on the bow I use (about three to four hours a week these days) came on the bow in 2001 and has been cleaned twice, when the rosining intervals got too short. I don't break hairs.

I clean with alcohol on a paper towel. Some people recommend shampoo but I prefer to keep water away from the hair and plugs. I find that freshly cleaned hair takes a little time to work like new hair.

ollieken · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 8:35 pm Post subject: Bow Hair

Ok thank you Mat & L P for the reply I think I will try cleaning the hair
as there is lots of hair if that don't work I can re hair it
Mat I cleaned the strings it helped with another bow as I took the hair out
I am going to try cleaning it & put it back in I may shorten it wee bit .
Thanks Ken

ollieken · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 4:56 pm Post subject: bow hair

I cleaned the hair with a little moonshine that I was given years ago
that was not the best got better stuff now !!! ha ha so I use it for things like cracking the glue joints & it works ok .
Shortened it a little just the knot the glue was a bit sticky put it back in the bow & it works fine I thought It might turn into a drinking problem but
did not happen . Thanks again Mat LP Reedy ken

Mat Roop · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: bow hair

[quote="ollieken"
....Shortened it a little just the knot the glue was a bit sticky ...[/quote]

Ken... what are you using for glue?... I take it you mean the knot glue
Cheers, Mat

ollieken · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:31 pm Post subject: Bow Hair

Mat Yes it was at the knot I use a drop of crazy glue on the hair at the end of the knot But also there was a lot of rosin build up at the frog so with the alcohol for a couple inches it gets sticky now that is after you cut the knot open & if you want to get the hair clean from the rosin build up & finger grime I should have explained it a little better I guess maybe it was the smell of shine that got to me .
Anyhow it worked for me Ken

Michael Darnton · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 7:59 am Post subject:

When I clean bow hair, I pour a long puddle, shorter than the hair, of denatured on the bench, tighten the bow up a bit too much, and lay the hair down into that for 10 seconds, then wipe the hair down with a paper towel, keeping the alcohol off the wood and out of the ends. If that doesn't work, repeat.

It's a common misconception that hair "wears out". You don't play on the hair, but on the rosin. The hair itself never wears out because it doesn't ever touch the string. Usually the hair needs replacing only because it's become lopisded from wear. The little bows in our rental fleet don't break much hair, but they sure get dirty. I clean the hair all the time, but we throw them in a bin when they need hair. If anyone ever wants to buy a batch of repair-practice bows cheap, I've got them. Mostly hair, camber, grip, and wrap issues. We've used some in the past for training people, but will never use them all up.
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ollieken · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:37 pm Post subject: bow hair

Thank`s Michael for the reply I did it flat on the bench only the knot was cut & it was out of the bow your way is easy & faster ken