bone versus plastic

[GaryG]

Is there an easy way to tell the difference between bone and plastic?
Specifically I'm referring the bridge pins.

 

[DThomasC]

Plastic is usually soft enough that you can deform it with a fingernail.

 

[txbumper57]

If you pull one of the Bridge pins and it is plastic then normally the channel that the string end sets into will be easily flexible and somewhat deformed from the pressure of the strings. If it is bone it will be rigid and unbend-able. Also the plastic will appear solid, shiny, and smooth on the stem where as the bone pins will have some grain to them from where they have been turned down with tooling to fit the bridge. They can be smooth as well if they are polished but you should still be able to see the grain of the bone. Remember there are also bridge pins made out of all other kinds of synthetic materials as well including different woods, animal horns, and other naturally occurring materials. Hope this helps!

TX

 

[nielDa]

The above methods work, it's not difficult to tell the difference. But another way - look closely for a parting line in the plastic from the mold used in manufacturing.

 

[Bikerdoc]

In sound?

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Try a hot needle.

 

[dapmdave]

In sound?

In two ways. If you drop a bone pin it rings a bit and sounds more solid (somehow) than a plastic pin. And (IMHO, of course) bone sounds better that plastic in use. It's harder and more dense and so transfers string energy more effectively.

 

[wileypickett]

For me smell is the quickest and surest way. Rub an inconspicuous part of the bridge pin over an Emory board and hold it under your nose. Anyone who's ever had work done at the dentist will recognize the bone smell immediately!

 

[bslot0622]

the easiest way, IMHO, is to knock it gently against your tooth. There's nothing quite like bone on bone, so you'll definitely know.

 

[docfishr]

For me smell is the quickest and surest way. Rub an inconspicuous part of the bridge pin over an Emory board and hold it under your nose. Anyone who's ever had work done at the dentist will recognize the bone smell immediately!

The bridge pin or the Emory board? Or does it matter?

 

[wileypickett]

The bridge pin or the Emory board? Or does it matter?

Either one.

 

[adorshki]

The bridge pin or the Emory board? Or does it matter?

I think the point is the bone (or its filings) has to be hot enough from the friction to emit that smell that occurs when getting a tooth drilled for a filling.
It's very similar to burnt hair.

 

[wileypickett]

The smell produced may be a combination of heat and the dust itself. When I'm working on bone saddles or nuts, the remnants of dust will still emit that smell the next day, though maybe not as strong.

BTW, Doc, if you do this and you're not sure, or you find yourself guessing what it is you're smelling, then it's almost certainly plastic.

Bone gives off a very characteristic and immediately identifiable smell.