Avoiding blood during string changes

[Tom Wright]

I really miss the Fender split-post pegs on my guitars in the 70s, but I do like how modern tuners perform. However, that exposed cut string is deadly. I've had the bad luck to have one jump into my flesh when pulling it off the post, now corkscrewed into my thumb.

But the normal wire-cutters I use



put a chisel end on the string, a very sharp staple point. So after a string change tonight, when my thumb just bumped the exposed A string end, and I had to watch out to not stain things with the large drop of blood that kept appearing, I went looking for my old Swiss Army knife that had the little pliers.



These act like scissors when a wire is placed in the small notch, and leave a blunt end after the cut. The result is much less likely to draw blood. It does require the right grip (like all scissors) to make sure the two blades stay tight against each other. But I can even cut my .009s with these if I am deliberate. They easily cut the wound strings---I think they could handle up to .050 as they do fine with my .047s.

No more blood.

[MikeZito]

It's as good think Dracula isn't a member of the Cafe - he'd be mighty upset with you!

(Sorry, I just couldn't resist)

[JeffD]

I always keep my glucose meter near when changing strings. When the almost inevitable happens, I get a measurement in. No opportunity wasted.

[gtani7]

I only draw blood when i cut right at the tuning post so i cut twice, once with a few inches flying off the post (mainly so it doesn't stick in my eye) and, as the last step, right at the post)

[dhergert]

Generally mandolin strings (and banjo strings) will break if held with needle-nose pliers and bent 5 or 6 times. It's a clean break with no sharpened edges.

I've also found that if you leave enough of the loose string end to wind around the post a time or two, a spring loading occurs that doesn't allow sufficient straight-on tension to cause finger punctures. You might get lightly scratched if you hit it the right way, but the punctures seem to stop happening.

Regarding medical testing, I seem to have avoided the glucose meter so far, but punctures like this are handy to see if I'm over-doing my baby aspirin.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I carry a pair of small wire cutters & snipe nosed pliers in each of my 3 mandolin cases. The only time i get 'spiked' is when i remove strings. I usually unwind the strings until they're failrly loose on the string posts,& then un-wind them fully by hand,hoping to stop the string from springing off & possibly scratching the mandolin. Sometimes the coiled end of the string is a bit stubborn,that's where the pliers come in. If i don't use the pliers,the string can spring off & the tuner post & embed itself in my thumb or finger - i had one down my finger nail once = not nice !,
Ivan

[Paul Busman]

I leave about 3/4" when I cut the string, then bend that back on itself with a needle nose pliers.

[Phil Goodson]

A small hemostat is my favorite tool for messing with those string tips.
Prevents bleeding as well as it stops it.

[Tom Wright]

Factory string ends are blunt, which is what I like about the scissor cut. I tried pushing my finger onto the blunt cut and it won't break the skin.

[Louise NM]

Not all factory string ends are blunt: I shed blood las month just getting the plastic package open, courtesy of a factory-cut end.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Louise - "Not all factory string ends are blunt:.." How very true !!,
Ivan

[onassis]

I'm all about breaking them off flush with the post. I've never even used pliers - just bend them back and forth a few times at the post and - voila! - the wire snaps off flush. So simple that I can't believe everyone doesn't do it.

[Paul Busman]

I'm all about breaking them off flush with the post. I've never even used pliers - just bend them back and forth a few times at the post and - voila! - the wire snaps off flush. So simple that I can't believe everyone doesn't do it.

There's probably no need, but I'm paranoid about cutting the strings flush as soon as I install them for fear of any slippage. I've never had any slippage but old habits die hard. I coil the excess string up and leave them alone for a day or two until the tuning stabilizes, then I cut them

[Willie Poole]

One thing that I like about GHS strings is that if you wrap a string around the peg about 4 times you don`t have a lot of excess string left over and then they are easy to break with a few back and forth bends, four turns should be enough to keep them from slipping....Also when I am changing strings I loosen them a lot and remove the loop end from the tail piece first and then work the string from around the tuning peg from a distance so that it can`t spring and strike me in the face or hands...AND I never get in a hurry when changing strings, take your time and figure out a safe method for doing it...

Willie

[PJ Doland]

I had a headless guitar once that used double-ball strings. I could change all six strings in less than 30 seconds total. I'm not exaggerating this.

I miss that guitar.

[Jeff Mando]

I had a headless guitar once that used double-ball strings. I could change all six strings in less than 30 seconds total.
I miss that guitar.

But, wait, I thought the discipline of music was in the suffering, the nuisance, the repetition, the time spent, the pain, the practicing, and yes, even, the bloodshed!!!

[Timbofood]

I've been breaking them off for years, haven't had a puncture putting them on but, now and then I get a stubborn one coming off

[Ivan Kelsall]

It's pretty rare,but i've had strings come off the post even with a 1/4" of string sticking through it. If i've happened to touch the end (not under full tension) while i've been putting another string on,they can slip back through & come off. Putting them on isn't a problem,it's taking them off - springy,coiled strings can really dig in if they hit you right !,
Ivan

[Timbofood]

Pricks can happen and show up at the most inopportune moments!

[UsuallyPickin]

Well ... for decades I rolled my strings into separate coils. Messy it's true but no blood was shed. R/

[montana]

Getting ready to change strings today. Wish me luck!

[Jeff Mando]

Well ... for decades I rolled my strings into separate coils. Messy it's true but no blood was shed. R/

Takes me back to the Nashville Skyline cover.......................those "hippies" don't carry no #$%@!! wire cutters!

[Rob Roy]

One advantage to being a luthier is owning a pair of flush-ground end nippers made for cutting fret wire. They get you as close as humanly possible to the post/windings. They're a pricy forever tool @ $35, but make quick work of the task. With 3 electrics, an acoustic and several mandos, I change strings pretty frequently. Some of you likely have even more instruments than I to maintain. Stew Mac and Luthier's Merchantile sell them and there may be a cheaper Chinese equivalent available on the web.

[zedmando]

I really miss the Fender split-post pegs on my guitars in the 70s, but I do like how modern tuners perform. However, that exposed cut string is deadly. I've had the bad luck to have one jump into my flesh when pulling it off the post, now corkscrewed into my thumb.

But the normal wire-cutters I use



put a chisel end on the string, a very sharp staple point. So after a string change tonight, when my thumb just bumped the exposed A string end, and I had to watch out to not stain things with the large drop of blood that kept appearing, I went looking for my old Swiss Army knife that had the little pliers.



These act like scissors when a wire is placed in the small notch, and leave a blunt end after the cut. The result is much less likely to draw blood. It does require the right grip (like all scissors) to make sure the two blades stay tight against each other. But I can even cut my .009s with these if I am deliberate. They easily cut the wound strings---I think they could handle up to .050 as they do fine with my .047s.

No more blood.

If I had a dime for every time I have poked my finger on a string end--I would be quite rich...