Let's try this AGAIN.

[Freaky Fender]

Alright. So I need to clean off my rosewood fretboard, and I'm not sure what to use. I have never done this before, so all opinions would be apprichated. I've heard of people using furinature polish, Martin Guitar Polish, boiled Linseed oil, or lemon oil. Which would you reccomend?

 

[Gabu]

Originally posted by Freaky Fender
Alright. So I need to clean off my rosewood fretboard, and I'm not sure what to use. I have never done this before, so all opinions would be apprichated. I've heard of people using furinature polish, Martin Guitar Polish, boiled Linseed oil, or lemon oil. Which would you reccomend?

I have been very happy with the lemon oil I have been using. No problems or complaints. I haven't tried the other things though.

 

[thadood]

When I do mine, I use car interior polish on the frets, followed by a brisk rub down of rubbing alcohol, followed by a smothering of lemon oil. Works well for me. I think everyone has their own particular way of cleaning the fretboard. As long as it doesn't damage it, there really is no wrong way.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Plain natural lemon oil or orange oil. No additives. Linseed oil softens rosewood, so I wouldn't be using it (but linseed is ok for ebony or maple).

 

[Milothicus]

I use naphtha, followed by mineral oil. after reading all the conflicting information on this site, that's what i ended up with.

 

[Treena Foster]

Originally posted by Freaky Fender
Alright. So I need to clean off my rosewood fretboard, and I'm not sure what to use. I have never done this before, so all opinions would be apprichated. I've heard of people using furinature polish, Martin Guitar Polish, boiled Linseed oil, or lemon oil. Which would you reccomend?

I make a point to clean my fret board, each time I change my strings.I use Martin Guitar polish. I would suggest the same to you.

However, you do not need to oil the board each time. Only when the board looks and FEELS dry.

Invalid Link Removed
Treena

 

[Treena Foster]

Originally posted by Freaky Fender
Alright. So I need to clean off my rosewood fretboard, and I'm not sure what to use. I have never done this before, so all opinions would be apprichated. I've heard of people using furinature polish, Martin Guitar Polish, boiled Linseed oil, or lemon oil. Which would you reccomend?

Freaky Fender, this is from The Bottom Line.

By: Roger Sadowsky.

I can only speak from my experience in oiling fingerboards--I did try using Old English Lemon Oil for about a year and did have the sense that the boards were getting too dry with that. I never tried other types of lemon oil. I also was not commenting on maintaining oil finished basses as I do not do oil finished and do not have any expertise or opinion on that.

I was only stating my preference for linseed oil on fingerboards and to advocate against letting it soak in for long periods. I should also have specified BOILED linseed oil as opposed to raw--raw takes too long to cure.

However, I have checked the definitive finishing reference book "Understanding Wood Finishing" by Bob Flexner. He writes:
"MYTH: Oil finishes should be maintained with lemon oil
FACT: Lemon oil, an oily mineral-spirits solvent with a lemon scent
added, is a very short-lived maintenance product. It is a furniture polish that will help pick up dust, add temporary shine to a dull surface, and reduce scratching until it evaporates--which it will do
within a few days. The fresh scent it imparts is a large part of its appeal."

Flexner recommends maintaining oil finishes with a new coat of the original finish or with paste wax.

I hope this helps!

Kinda cleared up my questions! Goes to show ya, even at 42 I can still learn a thing or two!


Invalid Link Removed
Treena

 

[Freaky Fender]

Ok Treena. Thanks. I guess I won't be using Lemon oil anymore!

 

[odie]

I would stick to any manufactured "Guitar" polish. It might not be the cheapest or economical. But you will be safe. If not boiled linseed oil will work.

Lemon oil is used more or less used as a cleaner/polish. Some use it as a oil to preserve. But what I have read is that it has a drying property to it.

FWI



edited do to horrible grammar/spelling! sorry

 

[Treena Foster]

Originally posted by odie
I would stick to any manufactured "Guitar" polish. It might not be the cheapest or Economical. But you will be safe. If not boiled linseed oil will work.

Lemon oil is used more or less as a cleaner/polish. Some us it as a oil to preserve. But what I have read is that it has a drying property to it.

FWI

I just found this new product from Fender.

Invalid Link Removed


I have not a clue as to how it works though, I have never used it.

I just ordered it, so I'll post back in a week or so and let you know what I think!

Treena

 

[Captain Black]

i would reccomend using Guitar Honey. you should be able to get it at any local guitar shop. it worked like a charm for me.

 

[Ty_Boogie]

oooh, too late I just used lemon oil

"Boiled" linseed oil, though, is not boiled. The actual boiling of some oils changes their drying characteristics, true. With linseed oil, though, it is the addition of certain solvents that causes linseed oil to dry more quickly, acting as if it were boiled. This makes it a better product for preserving tool handles, decks, and furniture. I suppose they should have named it "sort-of-boiled linseed oil", or "kinda-like-boiled-but-not-really-boiled linseed oil". You know... to make it less confusing. Uh huh.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Kronos]

I also read that if you have finger gunk on your fingerboard that doesn't wipe off, it's safe to use 0000 grade steel wool to remove it.

 

[Son of Magni]

I did try using Old English Lemon Oil for about a year and did have the sense that the boards were getting too dry with that. I never tried other types of lemon oil...

What is Old English Lemon Oil, some kind of deoderant? When we talk about using lemon oil we're not talking about lemon scented furniture polish. Lemon Pledge? The only lemon oil to use on your fingerboard is lemon essential oil. I know people that have been using it for 30+ years with no problems.

Sorry for rant

 

[Possu jam]

I also read that if you have finger gunk on your fingerboard that doesn't wipe off, it's safe to use 0000 grade steel wool to remove it.

The steel wool really makes the fretboard look like new. It also smoothens it up quite a lot. But you have to remember that it is #0000 steel wool.

 

[Magneto]

Cool.. Lots of opinions.. here's mine.

I clean the board with Windex. If it's really gunked (usually isn't), I'll use an old toothbrush to gently scrub around the frets. I wipe the Windex off. It doesn't hurt anything, I'll vouch for that.
Then I use Lemon Oil. It seems to be the most-recommended oil by alot of manufacturers.
I just use the Old English brand. It does not seem to dry anything out, so I guess it's ok.

I use a small piece of soft cloth (like old t-shirt material), to apply the lemon oil to the board. I wait until it soaks in a bit, then I use clean pieces of cloth to rub it down SEVERAL TIMES, until it doesn't feel or look wet anymore. The trick is to not use too much oil. If you do, the oil will start weeping from the wood later when you have your strings on, and gunk your strings to hell.
Alembic even recommends putting on an older set of strings for a day or so because of this.

Oh well.. it works for me.. rosewood looks great, doesn't dry out, etc...

Mag...

 

[Drake Kennedy]

My dad picked up some Formby's Lemon Oil 'Treatment'. I'm not sure what that means, but as a finish novice, I don't think pure lemon oil should be combustible and dangerous if ingested.
Is it safe to use on my fretboard?