Should I loosen the strings before lowering my Floyd Rose?

[jackson1]

And I have noted all of you for missing to also un-hook the trem springs when turning the posts. Geez

[straycat]

Don I'll bet you a corn dog it makes no difference.
I asked Dan Erlewine at Stew mac and he said no need to loosen the strings.

[jackson1]

Stewmac sells Floyd parts, right?

[Sharkfin]

Stewmac sells Floyd parts, right?

Yup, looks like everything except the baseplate.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

You can get a baseplate from ProRockGear.

Seriously dudes if you think that spinning those studs a couple of turns here and there is wearing out your knife edges, then be really careful about when you use your precious tremolo, because you're wearing the knife edges every time you dive or pull up.

[straycat]

Eggs Ackley!! Thank you Jazz

[DonP]

I'm talking about excessive height changes.

Imagine that the knife edge was flat.

Isn't turning the screws like dragging the knife blades across a steel can with high pressure (from the pull of the strings and springs)?

Isn't just using the trem like wobbling a knife on a steel can, but not dragging it?

What dulls a knife more, wobbling or dragging?

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I see your point about grinding the edges into the studs, but friction is what happens either way Don. Also, lateral pressure on the thin edge of the knife (during a dive) could/would bend the edge over, rounding it off, or even take chips out of it. Also when you dive or pull up, the pressure on the knife edges is as high or higher than when it is at the resting point.

I think what we are saying is, it's designed to take the abuse. That is why you pay for the Floyd. If you have some licensed POS then I'd be worried.

[Grandturk]

I would think the constant pressure that is constantly exerted at the knife edge when the trem is at rest is probably greater and longer in duration than when the trem is wobbled or screwed.