candle wax

[D McCartney]

Hi All,

My old Fender fretless was placed too near some candles and now has a thorough spackling of wax all over it. Does anyone have experience in removing wax without damage to the finish?
Thanks,
Dwight

[62bass]

Originally Posted by D McCartney

Hi All,

My old Fender fretless was placed too near some candles and now has a thorough spackling of wax all over it. Does anyone have experience in removing wax without damage to the finish?
Thanks,
Dwight

Mineral spirits (paint thinner like the Varsol brand) and naptha (lighter fluid) will dissolve wax. Neither will harm the finish. Alcohol will also dissolve wax but will damage nitro finishes (and nitro pickguards) I don't know what your finish is. Probably not nitro unless it's a very old bass.

Anyhow, go with the paint thinner on a cloth. It'll take a bit of work to get it all off. If it dries and leaves white marks, there's still wax left behind. You might want to carefully scrape of the larger bits as much as you can first. Use a plastic business card or old credit card.

You'll eventually get it off.

[D McCartney]

Thanks 62,
I am expecting it will take some patience. So far I have scraped some of it with my thumbnail.
Dwight

[Brass Nut]

Whoa! STOP!
If you have a little luck this will work.
Cool it! Make it cold (as close to freezing as you can get it) somehow. It should "flick" right off.
If need be, I see you're in WA. Wait until tonight and set it outside in the cold for 1/2 hr.
However, the areas you've scraped with your nail is now anouther story. You've essentially pushed it into the "stick" mode.

[62bass]

Originally Posted by Brass Nut

Whoa! STOP!
If you have a little luck this will work.
Cool it! Make it cold (as close to freezing as you can get it) somehow. It should "flick" right off.
If need be, I see you're in WA. Wait until tonight and set it outside in the cold for 1/2 hr.
However, the areas you've scraped with your nail is now anouther story. You've essentially pushed it into the "stick" mode.

Yes, that will work, at least for the stuff on the surface. If none has penetrated that would do the trick. If you live in Canada right now, just take the bass outside for a few minutes.

[Trevorus]

Originally Posted by 62bass

Yes, that will work, at least for the stuff on the surface. If none has penetrated that would do the trick. If you live in Canada right now, just take the bass outside for a few minutes.

Not a good idea to expose the entire bass to extreme temperatures. I recommend using an ice cube directly on the wax if need be. I would use a plastic scraper like a pick to remove most of it, and then use a solvent to remove whatever film may be left over.

[Brass Nut]

Originally Posted by Trevorus

Not a good idea to expose the entire bass to extreme temperatures. I recommend using an ice cube directly on the wax if need be. I would use a plastic scraper like a pick to remove most of it, and then use a solvent to remove whatever film may be left over.

You're concerned with cold? (thinking of moving equipment in winter for gigging)

But "solvent" is good?
Hmmmm, Okay.

[62bass]

But "solvent" is good?
Hmmmm, Okay. [/quote]

Depends on the solvent of course. In my first answer I suggested what would not damage a finish.

I've worked with this stuff for many years. So I've figured out what is safe and what isn't.

But just as a caution--make sure you have adequate ventilation and don't inhale the fumes. Don't smoke while using the solvent. Avoid sparks and open flame. Don't drink any of it. Dispose of used solvent and solvent soaked cloths in an environmentaly responsible manner (don't pour it into the sewer) Don't use solvents if you are accident prone.