Lol--well, it ain't much of a living for one! I really dunno--I guess you just work into it. I didn't start out making lots of strings, and actually have a good bit of arthritus in my fingers--probably from working in upholstery for too many years. I absolutely hate tedious work, like mechanic work, because I have big hands and bust my knuckles on everything (my wedding band is a size 15, but it's a bit loose since I lost some weight).

Even when I'm really busy, I usually don't twist up more than 10-15 strings in a day's time--starts getting to me some.

I figure it's like most anything else you do--the more you do it, the better you get and you get more done with less work. Back when I did accoustical (suspended) ceilings, my foreman (been doing it for over 30 years) would be talking and joking and looking like he wasn't working that hard at all, but he'd do three times as much as me and I'd be killing myself. He could run circles around any other ceiling man that worked there--it was just second nature to him.

Anyhow......did you get the problem fixed? If you ever get down this way to a tournament, give me aholler and I'll bring my stuff and sit down with you one afternoon. I don't claim to know it all, but I'll show you how I do it.

Chad