Cottoning Assistant
Step1: Preparations
For new strings:
New strings have either a smooth or polished surface that is incapable of holding on to the cotton fibres. This applies to all strings, whether they are made of gut, nylon, or carbon fibre. Without proper preparation, you get a rotating "cylinder" of cotton that spins on the string, expecially when you are turning the wheel a bit faster. Thus, creating a gargling sound instead of the desired clean tone . This behaviour is found with both plain gut strings and wound strings.
A new string (e.g. the melody string) needs to be slighty sanded before applying the cotton. This is done very lightly and carefully with a piece of extremely fine sanding paper (# 600 grit). The left index finger lifts the string and the part to be cottoned gets sanded. Take the string between your index finger and your thumb and rotate it to sand the string all around. Be very carefull not to strip of any fibres of the string itself! You just want to roughen the smooth polished surface, so the cotton "grabs" on to the string.
To further enhance the "grip" of the string to the cotton, you can also apply a little rosin.
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With new wound strings rosin also needs to be applied to the gaps of the cover.
This only needs to be done once with new strings.
Now you are ready for Step 2.
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With used strings changing of the cottoning is mandatory
- if it partially or irregularly worn down
- if rosin dust has accumulated on the string
- after any cleaning- or mainteneance work on the wheel
Before applying a new cotton cylinder old cotton needs to be removed completely!
Use your left index finger to lift the string between the tangent box and the wheel. Then use your thumb to carefully move the old cotton towards the keybox. Be carefull note to touch the wheel!
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Carefully remove the old cotton from the string.
Now the string is ready to be newly cottoned.
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