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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:
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.
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?
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....
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.
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
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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.. 
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