Hi Kai,
I'm having a spot of bother with the silk nails you kindly detailed in the cursed claw video.
Mainly with the thumb, I'm finding that they are not holding up and only lasting a few days - & thats if I'm carefull. However, I'm using them as a nail, not just as reinforcing my nails. ie I am overhanging the silk nail by about 5mm further than my nail. But reinforcing the silk with 4 coatings of glue and 2 of nail filler powder.

Are they fit for this purpose? I just can't seem to grow that thumb nail. Maybe that is saying something about my attack on the string. And I'm going thru boxes of silk nails and glue. I know some people use cut up ping pong balls, or visit a 'pedicure' specialist.

I would appreciate your thoughts.
Many thanks,
Chris

Hey Chris - sounds frustrating! Though I usually just reinforce me actual nails with the silk nails I've also had to extend a nail from time to time when one breaks or just erodes too much. It's not perfect, but it does usually work for a few days. I'd say generally more than 2, but it's softer without the real nail and does erode faster. The one piece of advice I can think of is to use at least two layers of the fiberglass/silk paper before adding the powder. I only ever do this when I'm extending and it seems to help a bit. Also, I'm not sure how long you've been at this, but I definitely got better at it with time so that my nails started lasting longer eventually.
Also, I think that some glues may be stronger than others (I have no scientific basis for this - just what people have told me). I generally use a glue called Stick-It, and one thing I like is that it comes off pretty easily without tearing my nail at all. The downside is that it comes off sooner. So maybe for the extended nail you could try actual super-glue? Again, I've been doing the same thing for so long that I'm not really an expert in the alternatives, so take what I say with a grain of salt.
Also, people keep talking about these 'Guitar Player Nails' lately, and also about a thing called Glue Dots. I was skeptical at first but I've been hearing so many good things I think it might be worth a shot for you to try them.
I wish I could be more definitive with my help, but hopefully this will get you started!
Cheers,
Kai

Thanks Kai, that is helpful.
Chris