Audioholic
New member
Love Lemon oil to clean my fretboard, but I saw that its not recommended for a maple neck. What works well?
glpg80
Well-known member
the lemon oil you buy at the music store is more like lemon scented lighter fluid.
i use pure tung oil with no additives (decking companies at the hardware store add curing chemicals which you definately do not want)
it can be found for gun stocks usually. i got lucky and found an industrial can locally.
that, combined with quad zero steel whool does it for me. i work against the grain so that i do not rub whool shavings into the wood grain, i also wipe against the wood grain for the same reason. if you are just oiling the neck as if it is not sealed, work with the grain for better results. if you have a quartersawn neck you have nothing to worry about with the whool staying the wood grain, as that is more of a fretboard ordeal.
the reason you dont want to use that lemon oil is because it will dry out your neck/fretboard - great for cleaning in the process and getting nasty terrible gunk out of the fretboard (yes, out of it) not so great for actually oiling the neck itself. at least that has been my experience.
if i use lemon oil for cleaning, i always follow it with a few oiling coats in 30 minute intervals because the wood soaks it up pretty quick.
i use pure tung oil with no additives (decking companies at the hardware store add curing chemicals which you definately do not want)
it can be found for gun stocks usually. i got lucky and found an industrial can locally.
that, combined with quad zero steel whool does it for me. i work against the grain so that i do not rub whool shavings into the wood grain, i also wipe against the wood grain for the same reason. if you are just oiling the neck as if it is not sealed, work with the grain for better results. if you have a quartersawn neck you have nothing to worry about with the whool staying the wood grain, as that is more of a fretboard ordeal.
the reason you dont want to use that lemon oil is because it will dry out your neck/fretboard - great for cleaning in the process and getting nasty terrible gunk out of the fretboard (yes, out of it) not so great for actually oiling the neck itself. at least that has been my experience.
if i use lemon oil for cleaning, i always follow it with a few oiling coats in 30 minute intervals because the wood soaks it up pretty quick.
Mudder
Active member
Is your maple board clear coated? Lots of them are finished and don't take oil. On mine I used to just use warm water with a smidge of oil soap and a soft toothbrush to clean, towel dry.
Audioholic
New member
Mudder":3oshovgh said:
It is finished I believe. thanks
glassjaw7
Well-known member
My buddy uses rubbing alcohol on all his guitars and it hasn't damaged the wood/finish. He just wipes it down with a small amount to get the gunk off, then he uses bore oil (for woodwind instr.) to condition the wood.
droptrd
Active member
I use murphys oil soap (diluted) and a tooth brush to clean. Then a coat of old english lemon oil and the a coat of pledge. Do not use the Dollar General generic brand of pledge. It leave a very thick and nasty film and doesnt feel as good as the real stuff. It does not compare to Pledge.
Just my experiance and $.02
Just my experiance and $.02
Strat+Marshall
Active member
Naptha/lighter fluid on a rag should take care of any gunk on a finished maple fretboard. You would not really want to use any oils or anything on it.
70strathead
New member
Strat+Marshall
Active member
70strathead":2uxr2vmp said:
I hope those are sweat stains and not all hand goop.
Your luthier probably wears a hazmat suit.
glassjaw7
Well-known member
You know, now that you mention it, I guess my friend said to only use the bore oil on rosewood fingerboards. The rubbing alcohol should still be ok though.Strat+Marshall":38or6s39 said:
mrp5150
Active member
70strathead
New member
Strat+Marshall":3ijx6f4y said:70strathead":3ijx6f4y said:
I hope those are sweat stains and not all hand goop.
Your luthier probably wears a hazmat suit.
lol!
gbsmusic
Well-known member
Strat+Marshall":3nq3877l said:70strathead":3nq3877l said:
I hope those are sweat stains and not all hand goop.
Your luthier probably wears a hazmat suit.
Motorpud
Active member
Audioholic":2lhtm5f2 said:
Right here man, you will not be disappointed. I' not sure how well it will work on a non-clear coated maple board though. Either way it's cheap and does a great job on my guitars.
mmorse
New member
0000 steel wool. My board is clear coated.
johnnyjellybean
Well-known member
Maple syrup
Vrad
Active member
I don't...
Dirty maple boards = mojo
Dirty maple boards = mojo
Qweklain
Well-known member
I read everything on that site and it all makes a LOT of sense! I wonder if it will work on a coated neck/board though?mrp5150":3vijat81 said:
Mudder
Active member
No. Oils don't get through to the wood. I use the Fret Dr on my rosewood boards, but just clean maple with soapy water and dry it.Qweklain":2au8edhp said:
glpg80
Well-known member
Mudder":2nqle5dv said:
better be careful how you recommend water. water will warp a neck beyond repair if the neck AND fretboard is not 100% sealed.
if the neck is sealed, its safe to use. if the fretboard is sealed, it is safe to use. however if the neck is sealed and the fretboard is not, then its only safe to use on the neck, not the fretboard.
you do not want your fretboard peeling off of the neck due to massive moisture exposure to its wood grains. that is why i said oil for cleaning - if anything you scrub harder but do not have to worry about warping or getting it on areas you are not supposed to on a neck that is partially sealed.
FWIW none of my necks are sealed. they are all natural, so that is another reason why i just use oil, and if that is not good enough, i use the lemon flavored lighter fluid you buy at music stores.
also, i have a friend who is an expert at neck repairs and guitar modifications and building. water is so powerful on a neck, he has his own techniques for using it to un-warp a warped neck. it does not take much on a natural neck to do damage. so make sure your neck is sealed before you apply it.