Tru Oil on basses

[waytoodeep03]

How do I remove this stuff?

[praisegig]

Paint stripper and sanding to get back to bare wood.

[ewimsatt]

sand paper

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by waytoodeep03

How do I remove this stuff?

What happened? What's the project?

Riis

[waytoodeep03]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

What happened? What's the project?

Riis

I put some on a bass and some leaked down the sides and dried. Was thinking of using goo gone or something

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by waytoodeep03

I put some on a bass and some leaked down the sides and dried. Was thinking of using goo gone or something

I think Goo Gone is a little too severe and may muck things up even worse. I'm assuming you're working on a natural (oil / wax) finish and that's where it dried?

Riis

[waytoodeep03]

yep

[Pilgrim]

I just did some Google searching on the topic and most of the info out there comes on gun forums. Paint stripper is usually used.

There is also info in this old TB thread: Stripping tru-oil finish

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by waytoodeep03

yep

Hmmm...I'd use the simple stuff and work up from there. I've used gunstock oil (tung, varnish, linseed oil) on a handful of natural-finish instruments and the rub-out can be a real project. Have you tried reducing the spill with fine grade (#000 or #0000) steel wool? That's a start. Don't worry if you work outside the lines as you can always re-treat with *gasp* more gunstock oil.

Just a sidenote: I steamed a major ding out of a all-koa neck....raised the grain like nobody's business but it did diminish the blem by 99%. Zapped it with #0000 steel wool (maybe it was a ScotchBrite pad) to smooth things. Of course, the repair did a real number on the oil finish but a couple coats of gunstock oil followed by a BriWax rub-out and you couldn't spot the patch.

Riis

[blipndub]

I just not five minutes ago was trying to clean gun stock oil off my fretboard where it had gummed up along the frets. I tried mineral spirits and lacquer thinner, neither worked! I think sanding is the only option.

[damagebassist87]

I would use Naphtha to clean up when I used it. It seemed to work well.

[Zooberwerx]

Application hint: I've never used enough gunstock oil at one time to even worry about running. I use a small eraser-size dab and work it in, repeat, etc...there's no such thing as too thin of a coat. Dry-time is much quicker and rub-out between coats is less labor intensive. 3 thinly applied coats, albeit time consuming, will produce far better results in terms of appearance and durability.

Riis

[62bass]

Originally Posted by damagebassist87

I would use Naphtha to clean up when I used it. It seemed to work well.

Naptha and paint thinner will work fine while it's still wet. But it's an oil/varnish blend and once it hardens can't be removed with a simple thinner any more. Paint thinner of course, will remove it but you will probably have to refinish the whole neck if you use that. Light sanding, as suggested, is probably better, then try to blend in some finish to spot repair the dull spot.

I'd stay away from that Goo off stuff at least if there's a chance it will reach bare wood. Just yesterday I was removing some stubborn price stickers from a couple oak boards I'd bought. I stupidly used some Goo off. It leaves a yellow mess that sinks deep into the wood and it doesn't harden or evaporate quickly either so it'll continue to sink in pretty deep. I haven't figured how I'll remove those stains now. I tried naptha and that doesn't wash it off. Should have used naptha in the first place.