Birchwood Casey report:

[candid_x]

Birchwood Casey report:

This is nothing new to EBMM veterans, but I thought I’d offer a report of doing two necks (one maple capped) with the full Murphy Oil Soap/ Birchwood Casey oil/wax renewal treatment.

The directions from the MM FAQ differs from that shown on the BC oil container: MM saying to leave it on for 5 minutes and wipe it off, the BC instructions saying to let it dry for 2 hours. I left it on one neck for 5 minutes, and on the other for about ½ hour. Follow MM’s instructions. Leaving it on longer than 5 minutes results in a gummy situation, rectified only through lots more rubbing out.

Both necks came out looking factory fresh with one application. While other applications of the wax would bring the wood to a glossier finish, I prefer a woody feel over a waxy feel. There’s nothing spectacular about the wood grain on either guitar, so no point in posting pictures of the finished result. Suffice it to say, they look like a new MM neck.

I should point out that neither guitar was especially dirty or dry to begin with, as I kept them conditioned previously with lemon oil. The maple board wasn’t especially worn or discolored to start with. I don’t think this treatment would bring a very dirty or very worn maple fret board up to like new, but it sure would make a difference.

I’m very satisfied with the results and definitely recommend it for older necks.

 

[threeminutesboy]

Thanks for Sharing ! definitly something I will do one day or another

 

[Spudmurphy]

Always good to post this once in a while.

The MM factory wipe it on with a paper towel and immediately wipe it off with another. I too have found that it goes gloopy after a few minutes and requires a lot of elbow grease after. Elbow grease can be found in larger stores in the unguents section !!

 

[Lucidology]

thanks Candid.... good info indeed!

 

[CudBucket]

I think the amount of time you wait just determines how much soak-in you get. The same could be achieved by wiping on and off in say 30 seconds, but applying several coats.

 

[GWDavis28]

Now the lemon oil does what exactly? How often do you guys do this?

I ask because mine don't get that much play, sad to say.

Glenn |B)

 

[francric]

GLENN, you better start playing those guitars more often or I'm going to have send the EBMM SWAT team after you.......................

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I pretty much do the same thing by letting it soak in for a half hour or more, and then I slightly depart from the standard procedure.

 

[robelinda2]

thanks Bruce!

 

[GWDavis28]

GLENN, you better start playing those guitars more often or I'm going to have send the EBMM SWAT team after you.......................

Well Frank, thanx, would that consist of NorM and Darrell?? Hahahahahahaha

Well with a 5 year old and an 8 year old and a wife working evenings, it's Mr. Mom to the rescue. Then by 10, I'm pretty trashed from working all day and doing the evening routine as well.

I have to scrape myself off the couch and dig out an instrument, it'll happen more once the horriday is over.

Thanx man, Glenn |B)

 

[azzy_wazzy]

Interesting read for me as I'm thinking of doing this with my bass... 4 years old and used when I got it, so not too sure of how the neck SHOULD be really... but a neck can always do with some love.

Spud - where did you get the oil etc from? Any idea where I can find it over my neck of the woods? Ta!

 

[candid_x]

Now the lemon oil does what exactly?

Glenn |B)

“To clean the neck, use a high-grade of lemon oil…. Rosewood fingerboards should not be treated with the gunstock oil; instead they should be treated with a high grade of lemon oil. Again, for cleaning, try using the same high grade of lemon oil to clean the entire neck, both maple and rosewood fretboards.”

Lemon oil (real 100%) safely cleans natural wood, but in addition it seals wood and forms a soft luster. It worked quite well, but BC oil/wax combo just works better. Before getting into the BC products I gave the both necks a good scrubbin’ with Murphy’s Oil Soap, which is great stuff, btw! That removed the old lemon oil, so I could start fresh with BC products only, just as they do at the factory. As stated above, only lemon oil was used for the rosewood board.

 

[candid_x]

Glenn, as for how often, I think that depends on how much the guitar is played, it’s age, climate conditions, etc. I believe the object is to keep the wood from drying out: sealing and protecting it, not to over saturate the wood with oil or wind up with a heavy wax build up. Too much of a good thing isn’t good.

 

[candid_x]

I pretty much do the same thing by letting it soak in for a half hour or more, and then I slightly depart from the standard procedure.

Yes, I don't believe this is ultra-precision work. Letting the oil set longer, then using 0000 steel wool, or adding more than one thin coat at a time, or whichever method to even it out is fine. I think EB's directions are the simplest, least complicated route to take, and it works, which is why they recommend it.

 

[francric]

Well Frank, thanx, would that consist of NorM and Darrell?? Hahahahahahaha

Well with a 5 year old and an 8 year old and a wife working evenings, it's Mr. Mom to the rescue. Then by 10, I'm pretty trashed from working all day and doing the evening routine as well.

I have to scrape myself off the couch and dig out an instrument, it'll happen more once the horriday is over.

Thanx man, Glenn |B)

Koogie is in charge of the team......................

As for the rest of your excuses, lame.....................

 

[GWDavis28]

Koogie is in charge of the team......................

As for the rest of your excuses, lame.....................

DAMN MAN and I shuttle you and Kathy around all weekend.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I know, I know, once the holidays are over man things will be different.

Glenn |B)

 

[J-Nick]

I recently did the oil/wax treatment on my axis sport. I was surprised to see that the treatment did somewhat change the feel of the neck... It almost feels like it's finished but smoother. It lost the raw wood feel that my Luke has.

I think the wax is to blame for this. Next time I will try to use the oil only.

 

[francric]

DAMN MAN and I shuttle you and Kathy around all weekend.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I know, I know, once the holidays are over man things will be different.

Glenn |B)

Yea man along with everyone else at the HAARRRVEEYYY and we appreciated it very much........................by the way my wife says it's Cathy with a 'C'.......... Hey, shhhhhh, not too loud, fsmith has a secret...........I wonder when he's going to share..............Glenn, we keep trying to hijack this thread but somebody always comes along and continues about the oil thingy sheesh................

 

[jazzbo jim]

The BC oil, in my understanding, functions distinctly differently than lemon oil-it's main function is to permeate and seal the pores of the wood deeply, quickly and then dry hard. Hence, BC's recommendation to let it dry and then steel wool it to a smooth finish. The BC wax then adds further moisture barrier but primarily protects and gives a smooth "finished" feel.
I take the neck off and give a complete treatment MAYBE once a year-but, as the "sultan of setups" (aka Jon) recommends, I keep my fingies clean and try to wipe 'er down when I'm finished spanking the plank (yes, I'm still talking about the guitar )
I know this contrary to EBMM FAQ's but I find it works (real well, I might add) for me.
The oil penetrates fast and deep, perhaps EB wipes it off quick in order to avoid the extra steel wool step(s) prior to waxing.
FYI: Welcome to Birchwood-Casey

 

[candid_x]

I recently did the oil/wax treatment on my axis sport. I was surprised to see that the treatment did somewhat change the feel of the neck... It almost feels like it's finished but smoother. It lost the raw wood feel that my Luke has.

I think the wax is to blame for this. Next time I will try to use the oil only.

That's the danger of overdoing it, I think. One of mine (the one I let the oil set longer on) feels different, and even seems a bit less clear acoustically, but I trust that between evaporation and playing time, it will regain its woody feel. Conversely, the one I went light on feels great.