0000 steel wool for fretboard finger gunk?

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skoora

skoora

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Title says it all. Haven’t cleaned a board in a very long time but my poor V’s are crying out for some relief. If answer is yes, I’m aware to cover the neck pickup for stray steel wool.
 
I use steel wool to clean the maple fingerboard on my Charvel. Also frets. The result is perfect. But I have never tried it on rosewood and ebony.
 
I won’t be using any oil. I haven’t had any change in my boards in over 15 years without oil.
 
I have found that just a touch of very light oil like F1 or lemon oil sort of ‘cushions’ the bite of the 0000 steel wool to further limit leaving any hazy scratches behind. I have used lemon oil with the same effect - but I do understand lemon oil can be a bit astringent on fb woods and should be followed up with something like mineral oil to rehydrate the wood after it’s clean.
 
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Pretty sure I used 0000, pretty sure it left some faint scratches, but after oiling they are more or less unnoticeable. Ebony.
 
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Arch Stanton said:
Cover all pickups..

That shit goes literally everywhere.

:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
True. And I just realized the other day you should really wear gloves as it will give you painful microscopic cuts if you use too much pressure.
 
I’ve used 0000 steel wool for years, but I always put this super thin SS plate with a cutout in the center the size of the frets to cover the fretboard. Works like a champ, no scratches
Done..
 
Here you go-
BB0DBF74-B192-459F-AD86-F0EA720F3B39.jpeg
 
1. Grab a lysol wipe and clean the gunk off and dry it immediately with a paper towel
2. Buy a little bottle of Bore-Oil at your local music store that does violin lessons and the like.
3. Apply a drop or two of bore oil on the fretboard and spread it with a q-tip.
4. Let it dry overnight and wipe the excess off which will be very little.

Done.


Going forward, get in the habit of wiping the fretboard with a clean microfiber towel after you're done using the guitar and you won't have to deal with gunk.
 
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Nah, scrap the schmutz off with a pick and use damp cloth anf some Dunlop 65. Good as new.
 
p1lch3r_Buttafukk0 said:
1. Grab a lysol wipe and clean the gunk off
2. Buy a little bottle of Bore-Oil at your local music store that does violin lessons and the like.
3. Apply a drop or two of bore oil on the fretboard and spread it with a q-tip.
4. Let it dry overnight and wipe the excess off which will be very little.

Done.


Going forward, get in the habit of wiping the fretboard with a clean microfiber towel after you're done using the guitar and you won't have to deal with gunk.
Click to expand...
No no, overnight isn’t too good from what luthiers say
 
CrystalSky said:
No no, overnight isn’t too good from what luthiers say
Click to expand...
Agreed.
And do not use Lysol anything. Mineral (type) oil only. Don't use old tooth brushes as that can have all kinds of corrosive shit and dirt. New only. A luthier told me once to not let it set in like that as it soaks into the wood, dries out, and then ends up cracking it over time. I do what most have already said with .0000 steel wool on my Rosewood boards. Can't speak to Maple.

1. Cover pickups
2. Spray/drop mineral (type) oil on board
3. Rub board and frets up and down neck (with grain)
4. Wipe off
5. Repeat 6 - 12 months
 
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