James Taylor Nails

[Tompicks]

There have been so many discussions about proper nail care over the years, I thought I would share this "Nails 101" video from James Taylor which I ran across today. http://www.jamestaylor.com/guitarlessons/ Personally what I like most about him is his voice, sure wish I could sing like JT.

[keener]

This is a great video Tom. I've seen it before but watched it again. So professionally done, like everything he does.

I'm curious if anyone on the Chet Board has used this before, and what sort of experience it gave. Do the fiberglass-based nails last a long while?

So far my one acrylic nail tip (for the index finger) is working just fine. I guess I've had it about 3 weeks or so, and I may want to have it redone in a week or so, but I have not encountered a real need to redo it.

[RandeDager]

Bruce, I'm looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. We'll have to compare nails. My acrylics are too stiff, and inflexible. Isn't that what most "real men" do.......I mean comparing fingernails?

[keener]

Rande,

I look forward to picking with you. I don't think there's any way around acrylics being hard ... that's just the way they are and why they are so durable. Doesn't bother me. Of course, I just use acrylics on one nail only, and that might make a difference in how I perceive them.

Bruce

[Mike Nye]

Go down to your local hobby shop and getya some model airplane 'dope', thinner & a few camel-hair brushes . . .

Then go to the dollar store and getya some GREEN SCOTCH-BRITE type pads, (I think they go by the RINSO brand) and some cotton balls . . .

1. File nails to shape . . .

2. Cut the pad into 3/4" squares (This actually SHARPENS your scissors) . . .

3. Slightly scuff any gloss off of your nails . . .

4. Pre-clean your nails (one at a time) with a cotton ball dampened with thinner . . .

5. Brush on 4 coats of dope, (or more if you like) one coat at a time, allowing sufficient drying time in between . . .

6. Lightly buff the nail with the green pad until the longitudinal lines of the nail are no longer visible.

7. Slightly dampen a cotton ball, and squeeze a drop of toothpaste on it and buff the nail until it shines like a mirror.

8. REMEMBER to have SOMEONE ELSE CLEAN your brushes in thinner for you ! ! !

Repeat the process (EXCEPT pre-cleaning nails with thinner step) once a week for maintenance . . .

[Nils]

"Go down to your local hobby shop and getya some model airplane 'dope', thinner & a few camel-hair brushes . ."

I thought I might mention that there are several different types of model airplane dope. I've never put it on my nails but I've put it on a lot of model airplanes. I would suggest using "Butyrate, non-shrinking" type dope for this. Some kinds shrink (a lot) when they dry in order to tighten the silkspan or silk over open bays in wings or wherever. Most colored dope is "low shrink", clear comes either way. There's also "Nitrate" based dope that is more of a lacquer based product & in general is more brittle & a little more finicky about what it will adhere to properly. So, assuming you can actually find a hobby shop these days, & if you do they actually still carry it, I suggest you ask for "low/no shrink, butyrate clear dope".

Fly Stunt

Nils