Solution/Problem - Strings with a small ball end

Here's what I've come up with.

Notice how I put a nail through the "ball" at the end. I guess most people just drill through the wood and let the ball stop it, but notice how one of the ball is tiny, it was pulling through the wood! When I went to fix that I also put the grommet in, because, well, shiny!

The nail would never pull through with a drilled hole, but it looks like there is a real danger of that above. I'd also want to file down the nail points so it doesn't catch clothing, but even then, they would probably be annoying.

What's a good solution to the problem I made for myself since I wanted more shiny?

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 20, 2017 at 1:40pm

You could screw on a metal plate with holes in it for the strings.

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 20, 2017 at 1:41pm

Don't forget to shine the plate. : )

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Permalink Reply by Paul Cezanne on December 20, 2017 at 1:50pm

I like that idea, plus I can use found metal scraps. It would obscure the grommet though..., I'll be clever. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 20, 2017 at 2:21pm

I was thinking lose the grommets altogether in favor of a very shiny metal plate.

I also motion that henceforth shiny metal things used to cover up mistakes be known as opps-bling.

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on December 20, 2017 at 2:55pm

you can get pushbike spoke nuts for cents, come in many colours and polished metal finishes

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on December 20, 2017 at 3:00pm

use a pop rivet cap ( inserted) in wood as a stopper .( also works on the top side of guitar to stop string from cheese cutting into the wood ) semi shiny too.

or..

slip on a small nut .

ps . slipping a ball end on a nail makes a great roller bridge also .

(for you whammy monkeys out there ) ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on December 20, 2017 at 7:15pm

The pop rivets are a good idea. I have used threaded inserts for string ferrels in the furniture hardware area of the hardware aisle at Lowe's.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 21, 2017 at 5:29pm

Hi, I would threadle the strings through small 5/32" washers, they will sit flush with the underside of the top. See my post Tailpiece tip, the photo with the two arrows in it.

As a rule a hardwood "plate is put under the bridge area with a pin bridge, called a bridge plate, to protect the softer top wood.

Taff