Martin, the cleaning answer depends on the strings, brass or iron. If 
brass, a mild polish such as Brasso will get the strings clean and 
shiny. If iron, quadruple zero steel wool dampened in the ever magic 
WD-40 will get the rust off and return most of the shine. Some darkish 
spots will remain where the oxidation is worst but the strings will look 
pretty good. Both should be polished/dried with a soft cloth (old 
T-shirt?) after cleaning. The diameter of the wire will be 
infinitesimally reduced by the cleaning process.

As to storage, paper envelopes ought to be O.K. for sorting but keep the 
paper envelopes in freezer-strength Ziploc, bags tightly sealed. I have 
been keeping whole spools of wire in Ziploc bags for some years and they 
remain in perfect condition.

Rob

-- 
ROBERT BROOKE HARPSICHORDS
4214 18th Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34205

www.robertbrookeharpsichords.com

941-746-6725

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