Remove, Restring, Recycle?

**jaydee** · Oct-02-2005, 10:03pm

Does anyone know if old strings are suitable for recycling. I'm sure it can vary by community, but might it be okay to toss them out with the old newspapers and empties? I imagine that the steel parts are no big deal, but what about the bronze bits?

**quayhog** · Oct-03-2005, 1:12am

I don't know about the recyclability of the strings but if you know someone who builds models the strings work well in modelling cockpit and engine compartment details. Offer it to them first.

**Keith Erickson** · Oct-03-2005, 9:59am

Jaydee,

Back in the day when I was in highschool. I would boil my guitar strings in water than wipe them off afterwards. It seemed to work a few times, but I much prefer to get brand new strings.

I would see if your local municipality recycles these items. I wouldn't see why these items can't be recycled.

Just my two cents....

**John Rosett** · Oct-03-2005, 10:09am

i used to give my old strings to a group of potters, who used them to cut and strain the clay.

**Jim Yates** · Oct-03-2005, 10:28am

When I taught school, the students who played guitar were always happy to get the strings that had been on my guitar for a few weeks. Some of them had strings that had been on there for years.
It seems to me that there is someplace you can send your strings to be used by musicians who can't afford new strings. I think It was in an old Acoustic Guitar mag.

**scgc.om** · Oct-03-2005, 12:02pm

I try to save mine up and, when I have a pile, I drop them off with street musicians. Also, when friends fly to Cuba, I donate to the supply - a lot of Cuban musicians have been made very happy.

**earthsave** · Oct-03-2005, 12:06pm

I would say there are more Reuses than recycling possibilities.

**Keith Erickson** · Oct-03-2005, 1:10pm

Originally Posted by (scgc.om @ Oct. 03 2005, 13:02)

Also, when friends fly to Cuba, I donate to the supply - a lot of Cuban musicians have been made very happy.

Question: What's wrong with brand new strings? Can't brand new strings be bought in Cuba?

**Tom C** · Oct-03-2005, 1:12pm

I'm sure one can buy them. The issue probably is.. can one afford to buy them?

**Keith Erickson** · Oct-03-2005, 1:17pm

Originally Posted by (Tom C @ Oct. 03 2005, 14:12)

I'm sure one can buy them. The issue probably is.. can one afford to buy them?

With all of the popular Cuban Music that's coming off that island, it's kind of strange to hear that Cuban musicians can't afford strings.

What gives?

**Tom C** · Oct-03-2005, 1:18pm

Probably some guy the call Castro.

**Keith Erickson** · Oct-03-2005, 1:29pm

Originally Posted by (Tom C @ Oct. 03 2005, 14:18)

Probably some guy the call Castro.

Ohh I get it...

...this Castro guys doesn't like musicians

**glauber** · Oct-03-2005, 1:46pm

To put it mildly, Cuba has a non-standard economy geared to survive the near-total isolation from the rest of the world imposed by the USA. From what i hear, they're doing ok, but the conditions make it very difficult to obtain products that are not manufactured in the island.

**Keith Erickson** · Oct-03-2005, 2:00pm

Originally Posted by (glauber @ Oct. 03 2005, 14:46)

To put it mildly, Cuba has a non-standard economy geared to survive the near-total isolation from the rest of the world imposed by the USA. From what i hear, they're doing ok, but the conditions make it very difficult to obtain products that are not manufactured in the island.

I'm scratching my head on this.

So people from Canada can bring used strings to Cuba because the USA says it's okay? ...but brand new strings are a no-no because the USA said we can't.

Man if I was a string maker in Spain or FRance, I would be flooding the Cuban market with everything under the sun. I would be retiring like crazy.

Sorry to hear that the USA is losing out on the Cuban string market.

**glauber** · Oct-03-2005, 2:17pm

Americans are not supposed to go there either, except under certain exceptional circumstances. I don't know if there are restrictions on what Americans can take and give away, but i wouldn't be surprised if there were. The other side of the equation is that since Cuba is not part of the world economy, their money is useless in the rest of the world. The amounts of dollars available are small. I'm uneasy with this discussion, because it could get violently political very quickly. I think i'll refrain from comment further on this.

**Keith Erickson** · Oct-03-2005, 2:42pm

Glauber,

From my understanding is that there is an "embargo" on Americans doing business in Cuba. I don't think Americans can go over unless it's for humanitarian reasons. However the rest of the world can come and go freely and trade freely as well.

...it's kind of funny that Fidel Castro made the Forbes list of one of the most richest in the world. I had a chuckle or two from that one.

Anyway I vote that he picks up a mandolin and learns how to play it

**Tom C** · Oct-03-2005, 3:00pm

I believe one can go to Cuba, via other countries. We are not allowed to bring Cuban goods back to the U.S. (no trading with Cuba).

**David M.** · Oct-03-2005, 4:20pm

I once made a bodkin threader out of an E string for flytying. handy little thing and I have had it for years.

**otterly2k** · Oct-03-2005, 4:38pm

In my experience, used strings make excellent cat toys. The thinner ones are great coiled up and batted around. The thicker ones (especially guitar strings, but works with mandos too) are great to put any little piece of fluff or paper on the end and it waves around (there's a toy called Cat Dancer that is a lot like this, actually). My cats have always loved them.

I also used a string once in the middle of a long road trip to tie up my muffler and keep it from falling off until I could get to a Midas....true story.

KE

**Eric F.** · Oct-03-2005, 4:42pm

Karen, I can't change strings without attracting unwanted feline attention. I have to give them the old strings to keep them away from the new.

**Gary** · Oct-03-2005, 4:54pm

Unfortunately, my cat only goes for new strings and only when i'm trying to put them on the mandolin. She totally ignores the old strings i use in my attempts to divert her attention.