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Uke strings don't come with ball ends. Does anyone know how to secure these strings with a pinned bridge?

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Never done it before, but I think it works just like the old Martin 5K ukes where you tie a knot in the end to simulate a ball. Give that a try.
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

When I change guitars strings, I cut off the ball end of the used string and tie it to the uke string. The woung string will hold just by tying a knot. I have heard of uke builders using beads, purchased from a jewelry beading store.

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R.W. '' Rollo'' Scheurenbrand
http://www.koaguitars.com

Nylon strings, right?  You can melt a ball on the end with a match or lighter.  I do that with my guitar strings to keep them from slipping back through the knot.  I have had a couple of slips that put bad dings in my soundboard.  Just hold the string close to the match from the side.  Don't set the string on fire, it will make the ball brittle.  There is a thread on David Schramm's site on tying guitar strings that shows how, or explains how to do it.  STM that might work.  You can melt enough of a ball to hold, I would think.  The other option might be to get a bead with a hole small enough then melt a small ball on the end of the string that wouldn't go through the hole.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thanks all. The knot idea should work except for a wound string. For that I'll try a bead.

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I take the uke string and string a bead on the end. The beads come from a
sewing or yarn shop. They look like and are the size of the metal ends of
guitar strings. Thread the string through the bead and tie it with a figure
eight knot. Rather than explain the knot just do a Google search for figure
eight know and you will find out how to tie it. Works great!

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com