Best cleaner for Rosewood boards?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shiny_Surface
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Shiny_Surface

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My Rosewood board is getting those impressions between the frets from normal use and I can't stand the way it looks.

I've heard lemon oil but I'm hesitant because I also heard it dries out the fretboard is there any truth to this?

Is there something better than lemon oil for cleaning Rosewood?
 
I just use a couple drops of naptha on a rag (or just a damp rag for less mucky boards). Really gunky boards get scraping from a credit card or worked over with a soft toothbrush. Finish up with the prep of your choice for "conditioning"...light mineral oil works fine but typically I don't bother since it's more an appearance thing than anything else.
 
ive always been told lemon oil from my ex-bassist, who was also a tech. as long as it doesnt have silicon in it, it will work.
 
Most lemon oil's out there are mineral oil's with a lemon scent.

Mineral Oil = baby oil

That said, I've heard that bore oil is best - you can find it at places that have clarinet supplies, since it's used on them, mostly.

I still use mineral oil though - only because I bought a big freaking bottle of it before I knew otherwise.
 
i like that lemony fresh scent! and it may have a good bit of mineral oil, but lemon oil should also have some lemon extract in it, which means it will be lightly acidic and help with breaking up all that grease and grime! mineral oil on its own wont do that...

but i still use a soft toothbrush to scrub the fretboard as well. :) little bit of oil, scrub, wipe clean.
 
soc_monki":55cc2 said:
i like that lemony fresh scent! and it may have a good bit of mineral oil, but lemon oil should also have some lemon extract in it, which means it will be lightly acidic and help with breaking up all that grease and grime! mineral oil on its own wont do that...

but i still use a soft toothbrush to scrub the fretboard as well. :) little bit of oil, scrub, wipe clean.
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FWIW, most "lemon oils" have zero actual lemon oil in them..it's light mineral oil and solvents sometimes with some fragrance and a trade name that developed because of physical properties. Do an MSDS seach on your fav brand and see what's in it. Light mineral oil itself does have some solvent properties.

Either way, you have to keep in mind what these preps are actually doing...
 
i use formby's...
made of a mix of lemon oil and mineral oils...
 
T2Russo":0c05f said:
i use formby's...
made of a mix of lemon oil and mineral oils...
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o rly? ;)

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=20008001

Chemical CAS No / Unique ID Percent
Mineral oil, white 008042-47-5 20-30
Distillates, petroleum, hydrotreated light 064742-47-8 70-80
 
you know, i never thought about doing an MSDS search on that stuff...but damn they just out and out lied saying that there was actually lemon oil in the product...someone should sue them for false advertising LOL
 
I use some stuff called Lizard Spit fretboard conditioner. I've been really happy with it and have been using it for a few years now with no ill effects on my guitars. Works great on ebony, rosewood, and maple necks.

http://www.lizardspit.com/



sub
 
You can use naptha to clean it but then you will need to oil it. Fret Doctor is the best I have used and have been using it for years. Great stuff. You do not want anything with citrus in it as it will eat at your fret glue. Bore oil is best.
 
alan67":34o99chv said:
Anyone ever use that Gorgomyte stuff from Stew Mac?
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Some love it. It does polish your frets but it turns black if you use it on frets and is messy. The black stains your board.
I would use Fret Doctor to oil. If you want an awesome polish tape off your board and go through a set of fret polish papers from Stu Mac. If you do it correctly and take the time your frets will look better than new. I have gotten expensive new guitars that can't compare to the polish I get with the papers.

http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Su ... apers.html
 
Kyser lemon oil has worked well for all my guitars (maple/rosewood/ebony) for years. :)
 
Subclavian":2mpwz6y9 said:
I use some stuff called Lizard Spit fretboard conditioner. I've been really happy with it and have been using it for a few years now with no ill effects on my guitars. Works great on ebony, rosewood, and maple necks.

http://www.lizardspit.com/



sub
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Right. Have you ever done a MSDS search to see if there really is any lizard spit in it? You might want to do that and see what you're REALLY using.
 
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