using lemon oil on fretboards...

[devilfish]

ive been using lemon oil on some of my strats and finds it quite useful but it seems to get used quite quickly, as i must have really crappy fingers.

but can i use it on my rosewood acoustic aswell? i cant see any reasons why not but i am jsut cheking.

also, what can i use on maple fretboards?

thanks

 

[jerryjg]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

TRy SCOTTS liquid gold man!

 

[caprae]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

TRy SCOTTS liquid gold man!

NO!

I've contacted three guitar companies and they all say use pure lemon oil on a rosewood fretboard - acoustic or electric. On maple you can just clean them with a slightly damp rag (if I recall) IF they are well sealed. Don't use lemon oil on them.

I get a tiny bottle at a health food store. The stuff is pure - no petroleum additives. Put some on a Q-Tip and go over it numerous times. Let it soak for a few minutes and wipe it off with a clean rag.

 

[Hellion]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

NO!

I've contacted three guitar companies and they all say use pure lemon oil on a rosewood fretboard - acoustic or electric. On maple you can just clean them with a slightly damp rag (if I recall) IF they are well sealed. Don't use lemon oil on them.

I get a tiny bottle at a health food store. The stuff is pure - no petroleum additives. Put some on a Q-Tip and go over it numerous times. Let it soak for a few minutes and wipe it off with a clean rag.

So, what am I supposed to do with this gallon jug of Homer Formby's?

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

My personal opinion is get something made for cleaning fretboards by Dean Markley or Dunlop, and don't use the lemon oil. I've found lemon oils that said they had no petroleum distillates but if you look on the back on the ingredients, they have petroleum products in them. I say it's easier to get something made by someone who cares (Dunlop, Dean Markley, etc) than someone who don't (most made-in-china stuff at walmart).

Just my 2 cents.

 

[pstarove]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

why not just to take a real lemon and squeeze it? it won't contain petroleum products this way for sure

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

why not just to take a real lemon and squeeze it? it won't contain petroleum products this way for sure

I've GOT to try that some time.... That just sounds so simple and straightforward! Such an elegant solution! Why didn't I think of that? :banghead:

 

[Redmist]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

Cause squeezed lemons gives lemon JUICE!!!
You would need many lemons and distilation apparatus to prepare oil from the skin.

 

[tc]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

Most things that come from guitar brands are actually mineral oil with some stuff to make it smell lemony. I just use mineral oil on my fretboards

 

[Bludave]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

Just go to a grocery store and buy a bottle of Lemon oil. Its like 3$. The amount of petroleum thats in that will have no ill effect on your rosewood fingerboards. As far as maple I just use my regular polish (which is Pledge). Guitar polishes are really no different than furniture polish.

 

[RiceCustomRich]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

Truth be told, I don't like the lemon oil, or any of the other prepared fretboard dressing oils. Most of them are ineffective, and don't do a good job of replacing the natural oils in the wood.

The best stuff for the job is a couple of drops of olive oil (yes, swipe it from the cupboard) on a paper towel. Wipe it on, let it sit for a while, wipe it off. No, it doesn't get rancid. I've used the stuff since 1963, and it has always been the best. Don't leave it overnight, just a few minutes will last for a long, long time. Be sure to wipe off the excess with a clean paper towel, and you will be amazed at the improvement. I generally clean the fingerboard and polish the frets with 0000 steel wool first, wipe off any steel wool dust, then oil the board. Try it on your next string change, and you will never go back. DON'T do this on sealed boards like maple or Rickenbackers, only on the natural boards like rosewood, ebony, pao ferro, etc. You'll LOVE the results.

 

[RiceCustomRich]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

Guitar polishes are really no different than furniture polish.

Not quite true, I'm afraid. Polishes for instruments should not contain silicones. Many furniture polishes will. It won't make too much of a difference until the instrument needs finish repairs. The silicones bond to the finish, and repel lacquers. Makes a HUGE difference.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

I've never known lemon oil to be worth using.

Now something like Guitar Honey or Gurian Fingerboard Oil does exactly what folks are looking for it to do.

 

[devilfish]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

i got a 4 fl oz bottle of the dunlop lemon oil fr £3 whihc is really good actually. its done me well so far i was jsut asking if people have alternatives and stuff.

 

[theodie]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

I've never known lemon oil to be worth using.

Now something like Guitar Honey or Gurian Fingerboard Oil does exactly what folks are looking for it to do.

+1.

Kids have to root through their hardware store looking to find the next best and greatest thing for fretboard conditioning. There is one of these dumbass threads every month or 2.

I use the Stew Mac stuff and I am quite happy with it. Kids, use a product that is made and designed to do a certain task. It will do the job that you want it to do, it wont f-up your guitar, and you wont have to go out every once in a while and waste your money on some snake oil your buddy thinks is the next greatest thing.

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

Truth be told, I don't like the lemon oil, or any of the other prepared fretboard dressing oils. Most of them are ineffective, and don't do a good job of replacing the natural oils in the wood.

The best stuff for the job is a couple of drops of olive oil (yes, swipe it from the cupboard) on a paper towel. Wipe it on, let it sit for a while, wipe it off. No, it doesn't get rancid. I've used the stuff since 1963, and it has always been the best. Don't leave it overnight, just a few minutes will last for a long, long time. Be sure to wipe off the excess with a clean paper towel, and you will be amazed at the improvement. I generally clean the fingerboard and polish the frets with 0000 steel wool first, wipe off any steel wool dust, then oil the board. Try it on your next string change, and you will never go back. DON'T do this on sealed boards like maple or Rickenbackers, only on the natural boards like rosewood, ebony, pao ferro, etc. You'll LOVE the results.

Hey Rich, I didn't know you were over here.

I might try that on the Warmoth "Total Vintage" neck I just got. They've been sending a lot of rosewood fingerboards to their Showcase section just lately, and I kind of needed something quick (cause I hate waiting).

I hadn't quite decided if I was gonna use anything on the rosewood yet because rosewood's pretty tough stuff, and it's kind of amusing watching a new rosewood fingerboard showing your plating patterns. Some time I'd like to try an all rosewood neck because the stuff has a pretty good feel as fingerboards.

Olive Oil I have. Lemon oil wasn't going to happen. I might have used linseed oil. A few decades ago, Luthier's Mercantile sold me some sort of fingerboard oil, but they pretty much admitted that it was mostly just linseed oil.

Pete

 

[RiceCustomRich]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

Hi Pete!

Yeah, I'm a noob over here.. The other boards are good, but this looked like an interesting forum, I didn't realize it was here. I needed to get a Hot Rails for one of my customers, and Google sent me here. After reading a bit, I figured I'd give it a whirl. Nice to see you, and a couple of other familiar faces. Linseed oil is more of a finish, especially if it has been polymerized. I use that stuff on some of my builds, and on some necks if I want them to age quickly. You know how my necks feel, I'll guarantee the olive oil will refresh your rosewood fingerboard, bring out the grain, and protect it from drying out and cracking. It seems to lubricate the surface a little bit, and doesn't evaporate as quickly as those lemon oil products do- plus it won't hurt nitro if you spill on it. I swear by it, and it's cheap/readily available.

Anyhow, happy thanksgiving, and I'll see you around the boards!

 

[subanots]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

lemon oil is just mineral oil with a fragrance.

dont use anything.
just play your guitar and let the nasty oil from your fingers grease the fretboard.

if you must, use plain mineral oil. SPARINGLY.

 

[tc]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

welcome to the forum bro

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: using lemon oil on fretboards...

Hi Pete!

Yeah, I'm a noob over here.. The other boards are good, but this looked like an interesting forum, I didn't realize it was here. I needed to get a Hot Rails for one of my customers, and Google sent me here. After reading a bit, I figured I'd give it a whirl. Nice to see you, and a couple of other familiar faces.

There's some diversity here.

Linseed oil is more of a finish, especially if it has been polymerized. I use that stuff on some of my builds, and on some necks if I want them to age quickly. You know how my necks feel, I'll guarantee the olive oil will refresh your rosewood fingerboard, bring out the grain, and protect it from drying out and cracking. It seems to lubricate the surface a little bit, and doesn't evaporate as quickly as those lemon oil products do- plus it won't hurt nitro if you spill on it. I swear by it, and it's cheap/readily available.

Anyhow, happy thanksgiving, and I'll see you around the boards!

Hey, it's still Thanksgiving! I thought it was tomorrow already.

I'll have to give olive oil a try. This is good timing. I've been dragging my feet about getting started because the first thing i have to do, yet again, is cut a truss rod adjustment slot in the body. Pesty work. I should have asked them to do it for me.

Pete