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oil vs. water
- Thread starter Killed_by_Death
- Start date
Initially I'd assumed that any glue used for wood would lose its adhesion given enough dampness.
However, just yesterday I used some Elmer's Pro-Bond Advanced & Elmer claims it's weather-proof:
However, just yesterday I used some Elmer's Pro-Bond Advanced & Elmer claims it's weather-proof:
revisiting this in my thoughts this morning & I'd like to ask the folks who are certain that oiling their fretboard protects it:
Have you put oil on the fretboard & then left the instrument in a low-humidity environment (long-term) & the wood didn't shrink?
Have you put oil on the fretboard & then left the instrument in a low-humidity environment (long-term) & the wood didn't shrink?
Turnaround
Commercial User
The crazy thing is that it gets debated like it's a new thing. But in fact the properties of oil as a barrier to moisture loss/gain has been known for centuries. And that's what at stake - moisture transfer in the form of water vapour.
Wood finishes accomplish three things - they make the wood look pretty, they afford some protection against staining, scratches, etc, and they inhibit moisture transfer. Very few finishes actually eliminate moisture transfer, and some are better at it than others. On the low end of the spectrum are waxes followed by oils, then shellac and lacquers, and at the top of the heap are modern finishes like polyurethane, polyester and epoxies.
None of the finishes "feed" the wood - that goes for oil too. None of them moisturize the wood in any meaningful way - to moisturize overly dry wood you need to add water. Wax, oil or any other finish simply inhibits loss of that moisture. And as I said, oil is on the very low end of the inhibitors. The one thing that oil does well is easily improve the colour and "prettiness" of the wood.
Wood finishes accomplish three things - they make the wood look pretty, they afford some protection against staining, scratches, etc, and they inhibit moisture transfer. Very few finishes actually eliminate moisture transfer, and some are better at it than others. On the low end of the spectrum are waxes followed by oils, then shellac and lacquers, and at the top of the heap are modern finishes like polyurethane, polyester and epoxies.
None of the finishes "feed" the wood - that goes for oil too. None of them moisturize the wood in any meaningful way - to moisturize overly dry wood you need to add water. Wax, oil or any other finish simply inhibits loss of that moisture. And as I said, oil is on the very low end of the inhibitors. The one thing that oil does well is easily improve the colour and "prettiness" of the wood.
That's exactly why I started the thread, the myth that you're moisturizing the wood with oil is so widespread that it will be an uphill battle to convince folks otherwise.
The industry has latched onto that notion & are selling products, so they have to get behind the idea & spread the myth.
At least the poll numbers aren't as bad as I thought they'd be, I assumed more than 50% would go with 'definitely'.
The industry has latched onto that notion & are selling products, so they have to get behind the idea & spread the myth.
At least the poll numbers aren't as bad as I thought they'd be, I assumed more than 50% would go with 'definitely'.
I've been known to use GHS Fast-Fret once in a while - and I know that slthough it isn't in the wood protection business, I like the feeling of a nicely oiled fingerboard on my classical guitars and mandolins.
On a bass? Notsomuch. I do like the slinky feel on the strings though - and I guess that's where I really like fast-Fret.
But Johnson & Johnsons Baby Oil (mineral oil) is just as good. Baby oil smells a lot better than rancid Colonel Sander's Fried Chicken oil.
On a bass? Notsomuch. I do like the slinky feel on the strings though - and I guess that's where I really like fast-Fret.
But Johnson & Johnsons Baby Oil (mineral oil) is just as good. Baby oil smells a lot better than rancid Colonel Sander's Fried Chicken oil.
I like the Stewmac Fingerboard finish, I think it's just some kind of thin oil varnish with dryers, but it looks great and stays that way. The first coat gets sucked up like water, you keep putting it on in thin wipe on/wipe off coats until it's stops absorbing. Done.
