Violin Forum/Message Board

Dave Chandler · Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: Loss of tightess

I'm experiencing a general lack of tightness in my bowhair, could it be humidity or lack thereof? Its a fairly new (2 yrs) carbon-fiber bow, original mongolian hair. I've read threads about tightening a couple hairs, but is there something I can do to get just a couple more turns, its nearly slack. In interim, I've folded up a bit of paper and pushed it under the strands at the tip, helps but needs more than that.
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Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

Jack H. · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:48 am Post subject:

Have you re-haired it in the last 2 yeas??
if not, that will certainly help.
Hair expands and contracts in humidity and in dry weather.
If it is a new re-hair and it is acting up it could be the humidity, unless it has been dry.

Dave Chandler · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject: lack of tightness

The bow is about 2-3 years old, perhaps time for rehair. Its been both dry and wet back and forth past few weeks. I've tried dampening and then drying, nothing is working enough to pull it up. I guess its time to pull the tip and maybe snug it a bit.
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

Dave Chandler · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: Loss of tightness

Well, too slack to use now, been humid past few days.

So I pulled the plug at the tip, wound thread tightly around hair another 4-5mm, then wrapped with a thin copper wire, tied it off, dipped in hot hyde glue, wrapped some more thread, dipped it again and let set. Cut off the old "knot" and put all back together. Much better, but have half dozen still kinda slack hairs which I'm going to ignore for now. At least this keeps me playing a few more weeks till I get a spare bow received. Then I'll attempt rehair with fresh.

Thanks for the suggestions.
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

Jack H. · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:14 am Post subject:

The hairs stretch during use Dave, that no amount of water will shrink.
After 2-3 years, it IS time for a re-hair.
That is the only way to get the tension back into the hair.

Mat Roop · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:08 am Post subject:

Dave, you can shrink the loose hairs easily.... turn a household iron to the highest setting, place it upside down in a holder of sorts. Tighten the frog on the bow til the first hairs are just getting tight. Lower the slack hanging hairs slowly to just touch the hot iron and they will pop right up. If you work the hair over the iron many times, you would be surprised how much the entire hank of hair will shrink.
Warning.... don't get rosin on your wife's good iron... or you may be out of the bow repair business!!
Good luck, Mat

Dave Chandler · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject: Tightening hairs

Great idea using the iron, thanks. Got a new spare bow, and more horsehair in the mail, so I may try this. I'd say I've got about 10 hairs that do not tighten at all, might be good time to experiment.
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo