Author: jhoyla
Date: 2010-03-11 20:01
There are silk swabs, and there are silk swabs.
Howarth sell a swab that is designed to be used in the way you describe - it has a lace sewn all the way through and a long tail that can be used to pull the swab back the way it came. You could force it through, but it is not recommended.
The type of swab I am talking about is extremely fine, and pulls all the way through without problems. I do not recall from where it was purchased but it is designed to be used in this manner.
Oh yes - I've been doing this for 30+ years on the same wooden instrument and not caused any damage yet (1976 vintage Strasser-Marigaux). Intonation still impeccable. When dry, the swab just slips all the way through. When the instrument is wet inside, pulling slowly makes the swab "creak". Second or third time through it is smooth as, er, silk.
J.
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