RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: << < 1 [2]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

orsonw

Posts: 1934
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

SUPERGLUE IS NOT KRAZY GLUE, NOR IS IT THE SAME AS BRUSH ON NAIL GLUE PRODUCTS.

According to wikipedia they are all trade names for cyanoacrylate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate

Cyanoacrylate worked fine for me for years but then I tried it in combination with silk and my nails turned red, sore and paper thin. They recovered (never fully thick again) after one year, I tried just cyanoacrylate again and the same thing happened, so at least for me cyanoacrylate does harm my nails.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 18:18:56

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to jshelton5040)

quote:

ORIGINAL: jshelton5040

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

SUPERGLUE IS NOT KRAZY GLUE, NOR IS IT THE SAME AS BRUSH ON NAIL GLUE PRODUCTS.

They are both cyanoacrylates. The first CA glue I used was called Vigor Aaron Alpha back in the 60's. My friend who lost his nails was the only one who did but several players developed the bright red nails before we figured out to avoid putting on the quick.

Superglues often have OTHER chemicals mixed in and can be toxic. You can EAT Krazy glue:

http://dpic.org/faq/krazy-glue

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 18:43:14

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

quote:

ORIGINAL: orsonw

quote:

SUPERGLUE IS NOT KRAZY GLUE, NOR IS IT THE SAME AS BRUSH ON NAIL GLUE PRODUCTS.

According to wikipedia they are all trade names for cyanoacrylate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate

Cyanoacrylate worked fine for me for years but then I tried it in combination with silk and my nails turned red, sore and paper thin. They recovered (never fully thick again) after one year, I tried just cyanoacrylate again and the same thing happened, so at least for me cyanoacrylate does harm my nails.

Any weird stories always seem to involve superglue product vs others. Of course ECA is MAIN ingrediant...problem occurs from supposed use of methyl alcohol, formaldehyde etc. I mainly use brush on nail glue, it does not contain methyl alcohol (methanol) as per bottle description. It is made to put on you nails and touch skin with no problems other than bonding. I would say in this day and age, there is a good chance Super Glue has same ingredients as others and no longer uses anything dangerous, to be safe. Perhaps I am giving em a bad rep unnecessarily...can't find their specific ingredients and have always avoided buying the stuff due to such stories. Best thing is to use the stuff FOR YOUR NAILS....though I am sure Krazy is the exact same product. Nobody I know ever changed colors or had allergy to it.

Could be in your case the exothermic reaction they describe with certain cotton or other fibers...meaning it was the silk, NOT the CA that was the problem. Or perhaps a weird allergy to CA?

Ricardo

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 19:40:51

orsonw

Posts: 1934
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

Any weird stories always seem to involve superglue product

The one that had a negative effect for me was 100% Cyanoacrylate, it had no other ingredients. However it seemed using it with silk was what started the problem for me.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 19:43:26

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

quote:

You can EAT Krazy glue:

Imma hold you to that!

_____________________________

\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 19:47:32

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

quote:

ORIGINAL: orsonw

quote:

Any weird stories always seem to involve superglue product

The one that had a negative effect for me was 100% Cyanoacrylate, it had no other ingredients. However it seemed using it with silk was what started the problem for me.

Do you know which kind though? There is a list on wiki...Ethyl, methyl, octyl, 2 octyl, etc etc....

Also, curious why you decided to add silk after years of it working fine?

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 19:47:52

orsonw

Posts: 1934
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

Do you know which kind though? There is a list on wiki...Ethyl, methyl, octyl, 2 octyl, etc etc....

locite superglue which is 100% ethyl Cyanoacrylate (exactly same as krazy glue)

www.hex.co.uk/MSDS/loctite/Super%20Glue.pdf

http://www.krazyglue.com/about/knowledge2.aspx

quote:

Also, curious why you decided to add silk after years of it working fine?

I was performing a lot at the time and broke a nail someone suggested I try silk. Seemed great at first but then my nails got red, sore and came away from the nail bed. I later read Cyanoacrylate mixed with cotton creates a problem, so as you say I think the silk together with Cyanoacrylate was the issue. Even so I can't use Cyanoacrylate on it's own now.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 20:58:38

Erik van Goch

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Grisha)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Grisha

Look, I am performing professionally and practice a lot. My nails take a lot of abuse. I am using Guitar Player Nails and they work (and sound) great. Do they sound like natural nails? Not the same, but the closest of all the other solutions I've tried. Anyway, after a while you adjust and they start feeling more natural than your own nails. They give you a lot of options in terms of shape, length, thickness, curvature and angle. They don't break and you can keep them on for a month or longer if you want (and thumb nail for over 2 months). Just add glue. I cut my natural nails to the skin. I no longer care if they are thin or damaged. I stopped using them a long time ago. Believe me, if you care about sound and feel, it's much better than any kind of finger picks.

I understand we are talking about an artificial nail glued on top of the real one ?!

In that case i have a couple of questions.

* How do you add/remove it (does it come with matching glue/remover)?
* How easily can it be shaped/moulded to the individual curves of a nail (is it pre shaped or flexible or both)?
* How much of the nail is covered (up to/on top of the lanula)?
* How and when do you replace it when over time it grows into the direction of the edge?

_____________________________

The smaller the object of your focus the bigger the result.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 22:17:15

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

quote:

ORIGINAL: orsonw

quote:

Any weird stories always seem to involve superglue product

The one that had a negative effect for me was 100% Cyanoacrylate, it had no other ingredients. However it seemed using it with silk was what started the problem for me.

When my friends and I noticed the red nails we had never used anything but straight CA. Like I said, perhaps the new CA glues are a different formula than the original that we had the problem with. After discovering that it shouldn't be put on the quick of the nail I never had any problem with it. The fact that 99% of players don't have a reaction is of little help to the the 1% who might. I suggest avoiding applying it on the the quick but suit yourself.

_____________________________

John Shelton - www.sheltonfarrettaguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2014 23:01:57

burnsbyrne

Posts: 44
Joined: Sep. 17 2005
From: NE Ohio, USA

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to jshelton5040)

quote:

ORIGINAL: jshelton5040

quote:

ORIGINAL: orsonw

quote:

Any weird stories always seem to involve superglue product

The one that had a negative effect for me was 100% Cyanoacrylate, it had no other ingredients. However it seemed using it with silk was what started the problem for me.

When my friends and I noticed the red nails we had never used anything but straight CA. Like I said, perhaps the new CA glues are a different formula than the original that we had the problem with. After discovering that it shouldn't be put on the quick of the nail I never had any problem with it. The fact that 99% of players don't have a reaction is of little help to the the 1% who might. I suggest avoiding applying it on the the quick but suit yourself.

I think the reason for not covering the entire nail with CA glue is that the nail moves as it grows from the nail bed. If you glue the nail to the cuticle you could have problems with the nail ripping off the cuticle as it grows. That could lead to infection, especially by fungus which is very difficult to get rid of.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 26 2014 12:56:38

britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Kalo)

quote:

Do you need to use the electric rotary file to trim them?

No, you do not!

After trying several alternatives (including using plastic Alaska fingerpicks, from my banjo days) for the past three years i've been using the " Guitar Player" nails from the guy in California.

Yes, initially they can be a $%^&iing pain to cut to size, shape properly and put on straight, and sometimes the glue does mess up the fingers. The whole process needs a bit of practice. First time I tried it took me about an hour to do one nail! Now it takes about 15 minutes total.

But I've never used an electric rotary nail file. I find quality emery boards work fine with practice. I use a piece of hard cardboard to buff and polish the final playing edges.

I use these plastic glue-on nails because I break and split nails a lot during manual farm work. I find them convenient and relatively fast to replace - 15 minutes after a little practice. I just use them on the top third of the nail. They play fine (for my level anyway?) and generally last about three weeks, although I have had some last well over a month.

I'd like to find a simpler system, but so far nothing else has worked as well for my purposes.

I'm still looking, though. . .

_____________________________

Fruit farmer, Ontario, Canada

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 26 2014 13:25:54

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

Thanks for answering my question britguy!!!

I am very tempted to try these nails...After all Grisha posted that he likes them as well.

I think applying them and then filing short would work fine!!

Good to know one doesn't have to use the electric file!

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 26 2014 15:15:55

rojarosguitar

Posts: 243
Joined: Dec. 8 2010

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Kalo)

After all advice I received here I decided to give the nail glue a try.

How do I go about the application? Especially, how do I protect the neighboring skin for getting glued together with the nail? Any way of masking, or is it just a matter of intense mindfulness?

Thanks

_____________________________

Music is a big continent with different lascapes and corners. Some of them I do visit frequently, some from time to time and some I know from hearsay only ...

A good musical instrument is one that inspires one to express as free as possible

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 2 2014 18:38:19

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to rojarosguitar)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rojarosguitar

After all advice I received here I decided to give the nail glue a try.

How do I go about the application? Especially, how do I protect the neighboring skin for getting glued together with the nail? Any way of masking, or is it just a matter of intense mindfulness?

Thanks

Just brush it on. Don't worry about it touching any skin....but make sure to hold your hand flat so it doesn't run or build up in one spot do to gravity. Give it about 15-20 minutes to dry. Obviously don't touch it, blow on it, or sniff it till then.

After it is dry, file and play. If you don't like it for some weird reason, DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE IT. If you have an allergic reaction or something weird just go to the doctor. If you find you are not happy with it, it will flake off naturally after a week or so, or your playing will wear it off over time. If you like it and it starts wearing or flaking off, dont' try to scrape off what is left. Just brush on more right over top. If you do get a little on your skin around the nail, it will flake off much faster than it did on your nail, but again no need to try to scrape it off.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 3 2014 13:25:20

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

quote:

Just brush it on. Don't worry about it touching any skin....but make sure to hold your hand flat so it doesn't run or build up in one spot do to gravity. Give it about 15-20 minutes to dry. Obviously don't touch it, blow on it, or sniff it till then.

After it is dry, file and play. If you don't like it for some weird reason, DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE IT. If you have an allergic reaction or something weird just go to the doctor. If you find you are not happy with it, it will flake off naturally after a week or so, or your playing will wear it off over time. If you like it and it starts wearing or flaking off, dont' try to scrape off what is left. Just brush on more right over top. If you do get a little on your skin around the nail, it will flake off much faster than it did on your nail, but again no need to try to scrape it off.

I would just like to ad a question...But, why use glue when you can use a product like Sally Hansens or other products that harden the nails. Most of those products have glue inside them or at least that is what I read on the forum.

It seems like with Glue, one has to keep reapplying it every week just like a Sally Hansen product.

So, my questions is why do the professionals like using glues instead of a nail hardening product?

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 3 2014 18:55:23

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Kalo)

quote:

why use glue when you can use a product like Sally Hansens

because Sally Hansens or other similar products are not as tough as glue.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 3 2014 20:14:52

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

I would even pose, why use Sally Hansen?

Glue is like $2 a bottle, super easy to apply, lasts a long time and works perfect.

_____________________________

\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 3 2014 21:15:13

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

quote:

because Sally Hansens or other similar products are not as tough as glue.

Ah, that I didn't know, but, makes total sense. I should give glue a whirl then.

quote:

I would even pose, why use Sally Hansen?

Glue is like $2 a bottle, super easy to apply, lasts a long time and works perfect.

Now, that makes sense as well. $2 a bottle is way cheaper that Sally's products

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 4 2014 3:58:54

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to mark indigo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mark indigo

quote:

why use glue when you can use a product like Sally Hansens

because Sally Hansens or other similar products are not as tough as glue.

ANd that stuff like "hard as nails" etc, comes off with one rasgueado.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 4 2014 14:25:01

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to orsonw)

quote:

ANd that stuff like "hard as nails" etc, comes off with one rasgueado.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 4 2014 16:50:54

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Ricardo)

But Mavala is good quality stuff and there's nothing to come off. It works damn well for me and I only use it once a month, two times max.

_____________________________

"Ya no me conoce el sol, porque yo duermo de dia"

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 4 2014 17:34:41

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Pimientito)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pimientito

Now I dont use Super glue any more but a product by a company called Jessica cosmetics. Its like the Rolls Royce of nail care products. They dont use formaldehyde which is what makes nails brittle with some products. I apply a coat of Jessica "Reward" every week which is a protein hardener.
http://www.jessicacosmetics.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=CustomBasics

I then use a coating of "life jacket" every couple of weeks which is a glass fibre coat that really makes the nail hard without going brittle.
http://www.jessicacosmetics.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Correctives

You gotto admit, these nail products ..like
Jessica "Reward" , Jessica "Nibble no more", etc
.. they somehow sound totally gay man.
Not very flamenco

KrazyGlue is cooler.

I use some 1 Euro nail glue which they use in nail studios too.
Same thing actually.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 4 2014 18:43:14

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Arash)

quote:

You gotta admit, these nail products ..like Jessica "Reward" , Jessica "Nibble no more", etc
.. they somehow sound totally gay man.

Yeah...i know. But "Sally Hansen" isn't exactly macho either.

Sally Hansen stuff also contains formaldehyde which makes the nails harder but more brittle...and as Ricardo pointed out, it comes off after the first rasgueo. Apart from leaving clumps of goo on your nails, it gets on the strings too.

Most commercial hardening products are for vanity, not for playing guitar, thats why we all use glues and silks and papers and stuff.

I always thought that Superglue (in the Uk anyway) is the same as Krazy glue in the states. If not I stand corrected but as far as Im aware the stuff I call superglue is a pure cyanoacrylate. If its different in the states then you need to check the labelling.

As a rule stay away from products that contain formaldehyde and toluene. They are more likely to weaken the nail and cause allergies.
I only suggest the Jessica stuff because it forms a tough glass fibre finish without weakening the natural nail and it lasts longer than the superglue.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

Follow my blog http://pimientito.wordpress.com/

"Ceremonial" by Mark Shurey "Pimientito". CD and digital download vailable on Amazon and
CDbaby. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/markshurey

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 5 2014 13:47:11

Erik van Goch

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

quote:

ORIGINAL: jshelton5040

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

SUPERGLUE IS NOT KRAZY GLUE, NOR IS IT THE SAME AS BRUSH ON NAIL GLUE PRODUCTS.

They are both cyanoacrylates.

Superglues often have OTHER chemicals mixed in and can be toxic. You can EAT Krazy glue:

http://dpic.org/faq/krazy-glue

I'm sure you're right but funny enough the link you enclosed give this answer when you enter super glue:

Krazy glue: Also called instant or SUPER GLUE :-)

http://dpic.org/search/node/super%20glue

_____________________________

The smaller the object of your focus the bigger the result.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 5 2014 15:16:04

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Playing Flamenco with Finger Picks (in reply to Pimientito)

quote:

I only suggest the Jessica stuff because it forms a tough glass fibre finish without weakening the natural nail and it lasts longer than the superglue.

sounds like it's better than super/krazy/nail glue....
I had to read back thru the thread to check your earlier post....

quote:

Now I dont use Super glue any more but a product by a company called Jessica cosmetics. Its like the Rolls Royce of nail care products. They dont use formaldehyde which is what makes nails brittle with some products. I apply a coat of Jessica "Reward" every week which is a protein hardener.

I then use a coating of "life jacket" every couple of weeks which is a glass fibre coat that really makes the nail hard without going brittle.

This stuff is not cheap though...maybe 50 dollars for 3 months supply but I found it really works and I havent broken a nail for ages since i started to use it.

how did you hear about this stuff?
I looked up their products and they make a "diamonds endurance shatterproof base coat" which it says " Infused with genuine diamond particles, this base coat protects nails from breaking while providing a smooth surface for polish." have you tried this stuff too?

thinking I might try out the stuff you use.
I hate super/nail glue. I use it, but I hate the stuff.
I think it's 'cos I can't get the stuff off.
it's like when you get a cut or graze and it scabs over and you wanna pick the scab off.
just having glue on my nails for weeks, months on end, sometimes I just wanna get the stuff off my nails!
so I'm always on the look out for an alternative that actually works, even if it's a bit expensive.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 5 2014 19:47:23

Dudnote

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 13 2007

RE: Playing Flamenco with Jessica (in reply to mark indigo)

Did you try this diamonds are for ever stuff Mark? Any good?

_____________________________

Ay compañerita de mi alma
tú ahora no me conoces.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 17 2017 22:57:08

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Playing Flamenco with Jessica (in reply to Dudnote)

no, never tried that, just the "reward" base coat and "lifejacket" stuff. Still using it. Only downside [apart from price] is the lifejacket is slow to dry.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 20 2017 16:33:06