Your not likely to find many braids on local-shop shelves clocking 0.6 - 0.8 mm. In typical braids/fusion lines, even 0.4 mm diameters will exceed a breakage rating of 100-lb/45-kg test. As you might expect, to get to a diameter of 0.8 mm, you're handily exceeding double that rating. Modern braided lines are pretty tough stuff. Of course, you can order the relatively high-diameter stuff from shops with a good selection of saltwater gear. ...And there a re vast many brands of modern, high-modulus polyethylene braid out there, all pretty much the same. (Don't buy braided dacron or nylon; those still crop up for occasion applications, but are very different things.)
Best, Eugene ----- Original Message ----- From: Daniel Winheld <dwinh...@comcast.net> Date: Monday, January 2, 2012 3:04 am Subject: [LUTE] Re: Non-stretchy pegbox leaders. To: Herbert Ward <wa...@physics.utexas.edu> Cc: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu > Google "Spectra fishing line" very strong, highly stretch > resistant. Another high strength, low stretch fiber is > "DYNEEMA" (high modulus polyethylene fiber) "Spectra" might > actually be this stuff, different brand names and formulations > for different applications. Fishing line seems to be the most > basic & readily available for the leader application. Braided > stuff may be more easily tied securely to the string than > monofilament. I doubt that anything in .60 - .80 mm would damage > anything under normal lute string tensions. > > Absolutely start with a thorough nut inspection. If the groove > is misshapen in any way, or off angle to the path of the string > so as to cause string binding, and/or rough spots, the no- > stretch material may just speed up the time it takes to break > the string while turning the peg.Then lubricate- bees wax, > graphite, whatever. Also make sure the small end of the > peg is not catching first, while there is play in the large end- > that can drive one totally crazy trying to tune. > > I have never needed leader for that purpose, only used it at > times when it made it possible to get two strings out of one > length. (Who doesn't want 1/2 price gut?). I've also never > had anything slip on the peg as long as the end coming out the > back end of the peghole passes under the part being wound onto > the string. > > Hope this all helps- > > Dan > > On Jan 1, 2012, at 10:49 PM, Herbert Ward wrote: > > > > > We had a discussion similar to this three years ago > > (Dec 7 2008). However, I'd like to revisit the subject with > > my question rephrased to focus more closely on my problem. > > > > Stretching of strings between the nut and the peg is causing > > me severe difficulty in tuning -- I can turn the peg > > 90 or 120 degrees with no response in the pitch. > > > > Lubricating the nut is of course a possibility. > > > > But I'd also like to try replacing the portion of the string > > between nut and peg with a leader of some material which > > (a) does not stretch, > > (b) can be tied securely and easily to the string, > > (c) will not slip on the peg, > > (d) will not damage anything, > > (e) is strong enough, and > > (f) is readily available. > > > > Does anyone have experience in this? > > > > > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > >
