Fret/fingerboard cleaning poll!

[Matthew Bryson]

You're supposed to clean them?

Don't believe the hype.

 

[peasandhoney]

no one mentioned denatured alcohol. yes it will ruine any finish it touchs if you're sloopy at it but seeing as i have stripped the back of my neck and oiled it . that is not too much of a concern to me. first i clean the frets with OOOO steel wool, then clean the board with the denatured alcohol, then seal it all with my own french polish (5 parts pure shelac, 5 parts denatured alcohol, 2 parts linseed oil). it hardens just as boild linseed oil but is not a sticky (the linseed oil will not set hard for days). i have been interested in seeing if people have ever tryed walnut oil? and as for the carrots: 1 lbs of carrots sliceed, 1/3 cup of honey, 1/3 cup of water, a cup of burbon and some buter all cook to a glase...

 

[dave_clark69]

I have never cleaned my fretboard. What would you say is best for a Wenge fretboard and Ovangkol neck?

 

[Figjam]

I have never cleaned my fretboard. What would you say is best for a Wenge fretboard and Ovangkol neck?

*sniff sniff* mm Warwick.

 

[angus_parney]

I VERY rarely clean my board or even change strings, I belive "The Funk is in the Gunk"

 

[nicoli]

I just spit on a rag, it works well enough with minimal effort.

 

[Giraffe]

Linseed oil is my choice for unfinished boards. I get the idea that some people on this board are talking about finished maple boards, and some are talking about unfinshed rosewood or ebony boards. They are completely different! As far as unfinished boards go, be aware that oil finishes should penetrate the surface, and should not be allowed to sit on top of, or congeal on the surface. This residue can get sticky when it warms up, and attract all kind of funk. Then when it finally cures, you have crud cemented onto your board. Use regular linseed oil because boiled l.o. has an ingredient that makes it dry faster, and therefore makes it harder to work with. Let the oil sit on the board for a minute or two, then remove it completely with a rag. Dispose of the rag safely so you don't start a fire. After an hour or so, buff the board with fine grade Scotchbrite (synthetic steel wool) and put the strings back on. The trick is to wipe all the excess off the board.

 

[ampegsvtca]

Lemon Pledge is the best all around guitar cleaner! Right now I have a one piece maple neck that is laquered (hope I spelt that right) so other than cleaning it is maintenance free.

 

[JerseyFunk]

I have an ebony fingerboard and used to use mineral oil and #0000 steel wool. I now use the steel wool with Butcher's wax. Both work great

 

[DirtySocks1379]

I use lemon oil on my entire (natural finished) Spector as advised in the owners manual. It says cleans and protects on the bottle, so I'm hoping with regular cleanings a harsher chemical won't be needed to de-funk frets.