An observation about Birchwood Casey gunstock wax… fwiw

[adouglas]

Just got done giving my Big Al some TLC and wanted to share something I've not seen mentioned around here.

While I don't fear neck mojo (aka grunge, filth, mung), I'm not a big fan, either. So I don't get all obsessive about keeping the neck pristine, but I do like to keep it from getting gray.

I also don't mind shiny, slick necks, so when the bass was new I figured I'd be proactive and wax it before it could get dirty, to protect it. If it got shiny, no problem. I gave it a good, healthy dose of Birchwood Casey gun stock wax… multiple coats.

Interestingly, it didn't make the neck slick or shiny. The wood just soaked the wax right up. After wiping it down, it felt pretty much the same as it did the first time I pulled it out of the case.

Since then I've done the wax thing whenever I felt like paying attention to bass care… maybe every six weeks to two months. I just wipe the neck down with multiple coats of wax. The first few passes leave the cloth gray… which tells me the volatiles in the wax are pulling dirt out of the wood.

The neck still looks great and isn't glopped up with wax. So this stuff appears to clean as well as protect.

I don't know if it would do a good job of cleaning an already-filthy neck or not.

 

[stomaraka]

for what it's worth...there is an instructinal video somewhere on the site with the cleaning procedure of a JP unfinished neck (i think it's called caring for you mm neck)

i folowed it using the same stuff he did, once every six months, on various rays (and the one i had)

what he doesn't say is that you should take 10 or so minutes breaks between steps...at least i did

each and every time the necks were AS new. what you should do is take time to tape up all the pieces you don't want to sand over (including the tiny rosewood bit on the back of the neck)

as he said, do not oversand but don't be afraid to sand it down.

those fretboard wipes also did the trick quite nicely.

i did this every six months or so, before it got any dirt. i think the wax also keeps it dry and sealed.

when you do it right, it's better than new.

give it a go

 

[phat5]

I too watched the same instructional vid after recently securing a Sterling 5 with a maple board/neck in gun stock oil. The neck was moderately dirty and the Casey's gs oil cleaned it up nicely, however after buffing it out, it felt slightly sticky.......didn't feel right. So.....I went forward and applied the wax and buffed it out. This is the most amazing feeling finish on a neck; I'm hooked!

 

[adouglas]

Just to be clear, what I'm describing is not in that video. I'm not sanding, I'm not oiling. At least not yet.

All I did was apply wax when the bass was new and pristine, with reapplication every few months. I've seen the paper towel I use to apply and buff the wax pick up dirt, therefore it must be cleaning the neck. Neck looks and feels great… no sanding or oiling.

That's the bit that hasn't been covered around here.

For the most part, when we get a neck maintenance thread it's from someone whose neck has gotten grungy and they want to know how to get it clean again. That's where the sand, oil and wax thing really pays off, IMHO.

 

[DrKev]

The solvent in both gunstock wax and tru-oil is white spirit (Stoddard Solvent), so it makes sense that it will clean off some gunge, including old oil and wax.

FWIW, as a forumite posted many years back (you'll find it with the search function) while observing the oil and wax process during an open day at the factory, it was literally, wipe-on wipe-off. The only waiting period after application was only about long as it took to dispose of one paper towel and prepare the next.

 

[Movielife]

I need to get some of the oil and wax and do a light coating on my go-to Ray 4 H.

Is it quite an easy/safe job to oil then wax? Its a maple freboard, but I assume you only coat the back of the neck and use masking tape for the other areas?

 

[adouglas]

FWIW, as a forumite posted many years back (you'll find it with the search function) while observing the oil and wax process during an open day at the factory, it was literally, wipe-on wipe-off. The only waiting period after application was only about long as it took to dispose of one paper towel and prepare the next.

Yeah, with the exception of the final coat I don't wait for it to thoroughly dry.

 

[adouglas]

Is it quite an easy/safe job to oil then wax? Its a maple freboard, but I assume you only coat the back of the neck and use masking tape for the other areas?

Yes, easy...

Why wouldn't you treat a maple fretboard? Same as the back of the neck. If you like the look of finger gick then I can see leaving it undone, but it makes sense to me to protect it.

 

[keko]

I treat maple neck (back) and maple board the same way, as described in Thread "How to clean maple board"!

Check it out, read all of my posts in that Thread, maybe it will work for Ya!
(no sanding, no waxing, only slight detergent washing and oiling with Wonder Wipes)

Good result and feel of the neck's back after a few treatments guaranteed!

 

[Calaveras]

the maple fret board is finished with varnish (poly I guess) so you would need to remove that finish first.
I wipe down the fretboard with the EB wipes after I polish the frets and remove the tape.

 

[nashman]

adouglas, I'm wondering if you might be using too much wax - and if it's the wax picking up grime - as opposed to the wax pulling it out of the wood.

 

[five7]

the maple fret board is finished with varnish (poly I guess) so you would need to remove that finish first.
I wipe down the fretboard with the EB wipes after I polish the frets and remove the tape.

This is what I was thinking, front and back are different?

 

[adouglas]

adouglas, I'm wondering if you might be using too much wax - and if it's the wax picking up grime - as opposed to the wax pulling it out of the wood.

Don't think so… besides, I'd rather any dirt that does get in there be attached to the wax than embedded in the wood.

If I detect any buildup then the routine will of course change. But so far, all is just swell.

 

[Calaveras]

This is what I was thinking, front and back are different?

yes, the fretboard itself is finished like the back of a "normal" neck. Thats how most all maple necks are. If you look at a new Ball you can see the dividing line between the glossy front and the smooth back of the neck.
To be honest when I treat my balls, I tend ot go overboard on the wax and the oil. I like how it looks.

 

[laneline]

My BA Maple neck feels and looks to be the same front & back, plus this is from the model page on the MM website:

Neck Finish:Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend Wouldn't it state the fingerboard finish if it was different than oil & wax ?

 

[J Romano]

My BA Maple neck feels and looks to be the same front & back, plus this is from the model page on the MM website:

Neck Finish:Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend Wouldn't it state the fingerboard finish if it was different than oil & wax ?

Sounds like a question for CS!