False nails from ping pong balls

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Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

False nails from ping pong balls

This might be of interest to some here. It was posted on another guitar forum - a very good lesson in how to make false nails/repairs from ping pong balls:

http://www.clarsach.net/nails/ping-pong/

I've heard of classical and steel strung (fingerstyle) players doing this and getting good results. Don't know of any flamencos who've tried it though. The one advantage I can see over plastic nails, acrylics, wraps etc is that the ping pong shell is thinner and should give a brighter attack.

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Spanish Guitarist in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 16 2006 10:41:04

Georg

Posts: 405
Joined: Feb. 5 2006
From: Germany

RE: False nails from ping pong balls (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Thanks, I was always wondering how this works exactly.

Nevertheless, I don't think that this will survive an hour of flamenco.
Has anyone tried this?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 16 2006 12:39:28

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 16 2006 13:43:15

alaskaal

Posts: 51
Joined: Jan. 10 2005
From: Chugiak, Alaska

RE: False nails from ping pong balls (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Combined with these new nail glues that are being marketed these days, ping pong balls really work for me. I have one on my a finger that has been there two weeks since a disastrous wood hauling accident. I do not use the silk wrap as described in the above method, but haven't seemed to notice a problem with them surviving hours of flamenco assaults.

The psychadelic balls sound interesting. How did they look?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 17 2006 0:05:21

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 17 2006 0:18:48

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: False nails from ping pong balls (in reply to Jon Boyes)

I'd snap those right off with the first couple of golpes.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 17 2006 1:24:01

Posts: 320
Joined: Nov. 20 2005
From: manitoba, canada

RE: False nails from ping pong balls (in reply to ToddK)

once!!! in an emergency
I used a slice of plastic coke bottle

It worked

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 17 2006 1:45:31

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 17 2006 1:54:08

musicalgrant

Posts: 188
Joined: Oct. 21 2004

RE: False nails from ping pong balls (in reply to Jon Boyes)

I used to use wedding dress silk with super glue

when i was performing on a regular basis, and it worked a treat. I have no idea about the modern glues and stuff, but this method was passed on to me by someone who played with flamencos..

Cut silk to size of nail, drop of glue on top and spread it around.
Then u can add more super glue to build up the strenght, file it to shape and thickness..Voila!

I resorted to this method because of using lots of flamenco rasguados They tend to wear the nail thin especially if hitting the bass strings.

It was fun going into the dress makers and asking for silk, it always used to raise an eyebrow....

probably out of date info...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 17 2006 2:11:20

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: False nails from ping pong balls (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Ramon Ruiz, a member of Foro and a professional player uses ping pong ball nails. I remember seeing him play one time and the nail flew right accross the stage, caught in the lights, and landed on the floor. It must work as he uses them all the time.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 1 2007 2:32:31

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: False nails from ping pong balls (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Surely everyone knows about Straight Cream? It was used for years to strengthen cracked horse hooves, and the grooms noticed that their nails got stronger from using it. Now they market it as a nail strengthener. I used to have to buy it from a large-animal vet, but you can get it in Publix and a few other stores. I think I've seen it advertised by Guitar Salon Int. or someone similar.

Anyway, it works. My 85 year old mother has osteoporosis and her nails were always cracking and splitting. She started using it and now has perfect nails. It's a shame she can't rub it on her bones.

I used to break nails all the time, used glue-on's (which, I think, weaken the nail underneath) and now that use this stuff (I am in the habit of putting it on whenever I know I'm not going to be playing for a few hours) I don't break nails unless I do something really stupid that would break a glue-on anyway. I'd be interested to know if others have had the same luck. I guess mileage varies . . .
Tony Arnold

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 19 2007 1:35:18