Removing gunk

PunkMetalhead42

PunkMetalhead42

New member
I've been meaning to clean my Strat for a while, and will have some time soon. But first, there's a few things I'd like to ask you guys:

The bridge is covered in dirt and dust. I'm pretty sure I can remove that fairly easily, but my main concern is the rust. Most of the screws on both the bridge and pickguard have rust on them. Any suggestions on what I could use to remove the rust? If I could find it in my house, that would be preferred.

There's also a glue/glue-like substance on the pickguard and trem cover that needs to go. When I unscrew the trem cover and/or pickguard, I have to use my knife to remove them before I can do anything. The glue substance is also stuck to the finish. How do I remove this?
 
Re: Removing gunk

A touch of WD40 on a rag? Dont spray it on the guitar it might fubar your finish but a rag or q tip shoudl work just fine. The sticky stuff probably needs some sort of solvent might try like simple rubbing alcohol.
 
Re: Removing gunk

You can order new pickguard screws from stewmac. What I would do to clean the bridge & saddles would be to use an old toothbrush, spray the brush with WD40, then scrub it all down. Be careful not to get too much of the WD40 on the paint. Many people don't realize it but WD40 was first developed as a cleaner. It should also work wonders on the glue on the pickguard....
 
Re: Removing gunk

What Bdave said.

There's also a product that works wonders called "goo gone".

Lighter fluid will also work on gooey stuff as well.
 
Re: Removing gunk

I use vinegar and an old toothbrush to clean gunk out of my bridges. It works amazingly well and it doesn't harm anything.

As for rust, if it's not causing any mechanical problems I wouldn't even worry about it.
 
Re: Removing gunk

take the whole bridge apart (every saddle, screw etc) and put them im a container and spray wd-40 on them.shake some ,leave it for some time ,you should see the oil turning black from rust and gunk.After that if you dont want oil on you screws apply same procedure with paint thinner or alcohol.
At least thats how i do it ,i but i take every thing apart kinda habit :D
Dont forget to polish the bridge after cleaning.
 
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Re: Removing gunk

I soak metal hardware in isopropyl alcohol or acetone, it depends, and clean it with a paintbrush. I don't use acetone on painted hardware. I blow everything with an air compressor.

For plastic parts soak them in windex that has alcohol added or just use regular soap and a toothbrush.

For rusty parts I brush them with a very soft brass wire brush, then I polish the saddles and key parts like knife edge and posts to high shine with chrome polishing compound. For extremely rusty parts I like to soak them in an industrial anticorrosive, especially Floyds that have so many moving parts. Spraying with WD40 or other penetrating oils would be sufficient too. Wipe off the excess dry and lightly polish it with the residual oil so you'll leave just enough film to protect but not get your picking hand greasy.

For rusty pickup poles I just wipe them with a rag dampened with WD40 or similar.

For bridge posts and saddle slots I use a valve lapping compound or abrasive cords, then again polish them.

Most of the time when you remove the pickguard you will find a line of gunk right at the pickguard edge and is usually hard to remove. Use a credit card as a scraper and spray some windex to help dissovle it and lubricate the surface so you don't scratch the shine. Finishes are easily cleaned with windex, naphta is ideal too, but it hardly dissolves anything water-based like finger grease without excessive soaking.

Glues and adhesives are best removed with thinners, but a less aggressive alternative would be anything oily. I would recommend light machinist oil (non-acid - especially important!!) on a rag and start rubbing.
Make sure it's not some old celluloid plastic actually rotting. Does it have a burnt smell? If your press hard with your fingernail does it leave an indent?
 
Re: Removing gunk

Mostly good advice here...

Only thing to really add is that you should if at all possible NOT use naphtha /lighter fluid on a nitro finish, especially if it`s starting to age nicely.

I made the mistake many years ago (mid 90s, before my formal training) of not being careful while cleaning the fretboard of my ´84 Flying V w/ naphtha, and the finish is still bright white (as opposed to a more "creamy" aged white) near the controls where 2 drops fell onto the guitar`s face.

I immediately noticed it and tamped it off with a fresh cloth, but it only took about 2 seconds for it to dissolve the very top layer and leave 2 round marks that you can actually feel ever so slightly if you run your finger over them.
 
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