Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

Van Noord

New member
I recently got a one piece maple neck that needs a cleaning. It appears to be unfinished, no lacquer and the frets need some scrubbing and/or polishing.

What are your methods?
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

I've been hearing not to use certain oil, especially on bare, raw boards.
I think I'll just use warm soapy water on a clean cloth and will try rubbing some tin foil on the frets. (an old bike spoke trick)
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

Unfinished maple and cleaning? I didn't think those mixed! jk

I'd say +1 to lemon oil or something like that, just be sure to wipe up any excess.

I have never heard of tin foil on the frets...what in the world does that do?
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

Damp cloth, buff dry.

Use one of the very mildly abrasive fret cleaning cloths from Dunlop or Planet Waves to polish the frets.

I might try a very light application of lemon oil, like Dunlop's, and then an application of Carnauba wax (Dunlop, Planet Waves) to protect the wood.

Bill
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

So the OP was asking for cleaning of the Maple Board. No answer. Lemon oil does not "clean" .Mild Soap and water.Scrub .Water , then quickly dry with cloth.
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

0000 Steel wool

Firstly i'd get all the grime and dirt off using solvent and then steel wool as suggested,
then your choice of fretboard conditioner will work well.

The steel wool works magic on frets and boards, I also buff, before and after the oil/ conditioner with an electric buffer.
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

Yeah, I was hoping to not break out the power tools for a modest cleaning. Im staying away from oil, as I don't want the smell or residue. Not looking for a return to new condition look anyways. I read that oiling the board will just lock in dirt and penetrate the wood causing discolouration.
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

Yeah, I was hoping to not break out the power tools for a modest cleaning. Im staying away from oil, as I don't want the smell or residue. Not looking for a return to new condition look anyways. I read that oiling the board will just lock in dirt and penetrate the wood causing discolouration.

If it is unfinished then you probably want at least a little bit of oil on it sometime during its life...unfinished/sealed wood doesn't do good without oil.

Light soap and water can do the trick (go easy on the water or even oil for that matter--don't want to saturate the board) if you are not wanting any residue/smell from the oil.
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

Nothing. I love the look of dirty maple fretboards. I think it's cool to see all of the places that I play and don't play on the fretboard.
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

Spit on it and rub it like hell with a dirty sock.








(this technique may work on lots of things)
 
Re: Whatcha cleanin' ur maple boards wit?

Dry rag, dry rag with solvent as solvent will evaporate but repeated use may gradually dry your wood.
Soap and water with barely any water so as not to saturate the fibers. And wipe away animal fat/soap when done. Not the end of the world really. Alternatively murphys wood soap is what i use to clean fretboards. Then oil like lemon oil or non scented oils.

The frets have acidic skin oils on them. Combined with possible environmental residue if you play it smokey dive bars. If you mask the board then possibly steel wool if solvent or other cleaners wont break up the finger grease or even rust.

Steel wool is an abrasive. It can sand off a dirty board if the wood grain is packed with junk. Then i just oil it and fill pores with oil then any dirt is on top of the oil. Easier cleaning rather than raw wood pores.

My .02c
 
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