What to use for cleaning frets?

[KentC]

I've got a guitar coming to me that's been sitting in the case for about a year and a half and the frets have got a little oxidation on them. No rust, just oxidation. I've never really had to deal with the issue before so I'm not sure what's the best route to take for cleaning them. Steel wol? Fine grit sand paper?Any advice much appreciated

 

[messenger]

I use 0000 steel wool. Just tape the pickups so the little fibres don't stick to them.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

As long as you mask the fretboard very well I use that eagle one wadding metal polish... the actual name escapes me at the moment. I've had the same tin like 8 years. Works like a charm and you're not getting dust everywhere. Tiny finger tip size wad does all the frets. Honestly any metal rubbing compound is good too, just mask well and don't over-do it. If you steel wool and get "wool dust" on your pickups use a screw driver to attract the dust to it, don't use a magnet or something. I'm sure you're aware and smarter than that just offering up in case you hadn't thought of that.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

Basically my whole soap box was because I hate steel wool fibers, they get everywhere hahaha

 

[glip22]

I make my frets look incredible by taping off the board with stew mac low tac white tape and run through a set of 3m fret papers. Does the best job I have seen yet.

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/To ... grits.html

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Su ... _Tape.html

 

[KentC]

Basically my whole soap box was because I hate steel wool fibers, they get everywhere hahaha

Well there goes my Christmas present I had lined up for you lol. Thanks for the rant though, good read

 

[mniel8195]

If they are ss frets I do nothing ever.

 

[Kelly]

gorgamyte

 

[The Traveller]

gorgamyte

+1

 

[mrhiwatt]

I use gorgamyte also . Works great
Mrhiwatt

 

[glip22]

I use gorgamyte also . Works great
Mrhiwatt

Goramyte does a good enough job. If you want the best use the papers. I once finished with the papers and used Gorgamyte.
It dulled the job I had done and had to go back over it with the last two papers to get back the shine.
It just depends on how much effort one wants to put out and the job they are happy with. I found using the papers to last much longer as well. Tape your board off. Gorgamyte will leave allot of black residue on your board after doing the frets with it. It turns black quickly.It's a pain to get it out of a maple board.

 

[SpiderWars]

I make my frets look incredible by taping off the board with stew mac low tac white tape and run through a set of 3m fret papers. Does the best job I have seen yet.

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/To ... grits.html

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Su ... _Tape.html

I've never used gorgamyte but have used this stuff and it works very well. IIRC, the 3m is the pink. Good for rounding fret ends too.

 

[thenine]

gorgomyte

 

[RockyStar]

I use 0000 grade steel wool and have always got a great result.

 

[madrigal77]

gorgamyte

This and /thread.

 

[tlingen]

 

[fuzzyguitars]

gorgamyte

big plus for me too.

works great

preserves a lot more metal than cleaning with any other method including steel wool