Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: Jonny on March 14, 2008, 11:34:58 PM

Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Jonny on March 14, 2008, 11:34:58 PM
Is there an easier way to clean a fretboard of dirty shite other than a cloth, lemon oil (for non-maple necks) and some elbow grease?

I was thinking of using a toothbrush to be honest but the oil doesn't really spread that easy with one.
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on March 15, 2008, 12:03:03 AM
On ebony/rosewood boards I will use some 0000 grade wire wool ( Liberon brand is my favourite one)
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: _tom_ on March 15, 2008, 12:09:43 AM
I found this worked really well on my Epiphones rosewood board http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

Makes it look much nicer.
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: WezV on March 15, 2008, 09:58:40 AM
another vote for liberon 0000 steel wool
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: WezV on March 15, 2008, 11:17:20 AM
in fact i have just done a rosewood board on a custom shop jazz bass i was fitting new pickups to (fralins not BKP, i am trying to convince him he needs BKP's on his other jazz bass)

the board was covered in a lot of filth from heavy touring and gigging, so much so that very little of the wood was actually visable, the MOP inlays looked really dull and it all felt quite rough

a 2 minute rub down with the 0000 wire wool has it looking like new and smooth as silk

no need for oils or other treatments unless its actually a dry board - most will just polish up wil a good rub
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Ratrod on March 15, 2008, 11:40:02 AM
You can use a scourer with some lighter fluid.
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Jonny on March 15, 2008, 12:32:01 PM
I have an old Dean Baby V. And the fretboard is dirty as-

Where could I buy 0000 grade wool? Local hardware store? (As it seems to be the Narnia of guitar tools and what not)

And how long can I use one piece till I have to change?
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: WezV on March 15, 2008, 03:23:32 PM
worth checking the hardware stores as thats where i used to get mine but now i order it in - since the local hardware store became a chip shop

a roll like this will last you a long time

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Liberon-Steel-Wool-23679.htm

pull off a small amount and chuck it when done
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 15, 2008, 03:35:31 PM
Hey! I was thinking:
Here in Brazil, we use both steel wool and some woods oil to dark woods fingerboard and Lemon oil to maple fingerboard...

My doubt:
Does the Lemon Oil would help in stop the "darkening" of rosewood/ziricote fingerboards? And it would not damage the fingerboard right??
Thank you!

EDIT: The rosewood I've just bought was cutted before 1992 and was drying, so, perhaps some oil would be good, do you agree?
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: WezV on March 15, 2008, 04:32:38 PM
when we are talking about dry fretboards we are not talking about moisture content.  all wood should be fully seasoned before use and a board cut in 1992 should be by now assuming it was stored properly

we are talking about the oil content - a 'dry' board will have less of the rosewoods natural oils and these need replacing with something else.  A good (i.e relatively oily) piece of rosewood ( or ziracote) needs nothing more than a polish
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: lifted on March 17, 2008, 05:06:20 AM
Quote from: _tom_
I found this worked really well on my Epiphones rosewood board http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

Makes it look much nicer.

Is that oil o.k. for maple fretbards, too?  I just ordered some for my rosewood and ebony, but is it ok for maple?
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Jonny on March 17, 2008, 08:34:38 AM
This wool thing is annoying, they don't sell them in small amounts. :?
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: WezV on March 17, 2008, 08:44:56 AM
easier to buy more and have it ready for the next time you clean a fretboard.. or anything else for that matter - its usefull stuff to have around
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: mikeluke on March 19, 2008, 03:53:51 PM
Guitar builders chip in please but I thought that Lemon Oil was a no-no for unvarnished maple....
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 25, 2008, 07:59:38 AM
I've been using this vary sparingly, but also has other uses.

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: froglord on March 28, 2008, 03:47:02 PM
I'm a 0000 wire wool man too - good to see that I'm using the same method as the forum's luthiers!

You have to take precautions when using it, because it disintegrates into tiny iron filings as you rub. I suspect these might cause damage to the finish if you're careless, and they also have a habit of sticking to the magnets in your pickups given half a chance. A few sheets of newspaper and a good cleanup once you're finished should see you straight.
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: WezV on March 28, 2008, 04:06:50 PM
i always put masking tape over my pickups before using the wire wool - then have a dust and hoover before removing it
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: froglord on March 28, 2008, 05:48:39 PM
Quote from: WezV
i always put masking tape over my pickups before using the wire wool - then have a dust and hoover before removing it


Ah, that's how you're supposed to do it. I put newspaper over the pickups, but some wool always gets through. I then take it off with damp kitchen roll - it wants to stick to that more than the pickups.
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on March 28, 2008, 07:03:27 PM
Quote from: Johnny Mac
I've been using this vary sparingly, but also has other uses.

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/


It's KY Jelly for Ducks! :evil:
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 28, 2008, 07:23:00 PM
Quote from: FELINEGUITARS
Quote from: Johnny Mac
I've been using this vary sparingly, but also has other uses.

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/


It's KY Jelly for Ducks! :evil:


So no good then?  :o
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: WezV on March 28, 2008, 07:24:13 PM
depends what you are trying to do - if you are wanting to worry a duck it might be quite usefull
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 28, 2008, 07:25:20 PM
Quote from: WezV
depends what you are trying to do - if you are wanting to worry a duck it might be quite usefull


 :lol:  :lol:
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Afghan Dave on March 29, 2008, 12:47:14 PM
Quote from: Johnny Mac
Quote from: WezV
depends what you are trying to do - if you are wanting to worry a duck it might be quite usefull


 :lol:  :lol:


The birds always worry when Johnny starts to play with his Koch...  :roll:

(hey Johnny..I'm back to my normal low standards - HIGH FIVE!!)
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 29, 2008, 01:19:30 PM
Quote from: Afghan Dave
Quote from: Johnny Mac
Quote from: WezV
depends what you are trying to do - if you are wanting to worry a duck it might be quite usefull


 :lol:  :lol:


The birds always worry when Johnny starts to play with his Koch...  :roll:

(hey Johnny..I'm back to my normal low standards - HIGH FIVE!!)


That's grrrreat!

So no more Mojo problems? Good. Me neither, in fact it's bigger than ever!

Shagged a kiwi bird last monday in fact!  :lol:  :lol:

What you been up to Dave any good tales?
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 29, 2008, 01:21:00 PM
Quote from: FELINEGUITARS
Quote from: Johnny Mac
I've been using this vary sparingly, but also has other uses.

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/


It's KY Jelly for Ducks! :evil:


You know who's behind this stuff don't you, Ed Roman! The thing is  he ain't a bad bloke really, just misunderstood!
Title: Cleaning Fretboard
Post by: ailean on March 29, 2008, 03:50:57 PM
+1 on the lighter fluid, bloody great at shifting the cr@p, don't need to use it often, it also works a treat on the body to bring up the finish.

+1 on the 0000 wire wool, but then I was put on to it by Jonathan and Wez so no surprise there.