Gun stock finish vs. Gun stock wax?

[ozzyrules]

The following link of Drew Montell performing neck maintenance on a JP is extremely helpful.My problem is that I bought Birchwood Casey True-Oil 'gun stock finish' instead of 'gunstock wax'. Will it serve the same purpose?

YouTube - ‪Caring for your Music Man neck & Fretboard‬‏

 

[luv]

you definately want the wax for the last coat Ozzy. the first application is an oil, but i'm not sure if it's the gun stock "finish" that you bought or if it's called something different. i've had mine for so long that i don't remember what it's called. i know there is a guideline around here somewhere that tells you exactly what you want.

 

[ozzyrules]

pretty sure you want the wax Ozzy.....not sure what the "finish" is, but it's not worth gunking up the sweetness that we all know and luv.

Thanks, I agree.

 

[luv]

How do I clean and maintain my Music Man neck? < link

i think the "finish" oil is the right stuff, but MUST be followed with the wax.

 

[joe web]

this is what is written on my bottles:
birchwood casey:
Tru-Oil
Gun Stock Finish

Gun Stock
WAX

clean the neck, apply the oil, wait about 2 hours, wipe the neck with dry cloth, apply the wax, leave it on for 1 hour, wipe the neck with another dry cloth.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Just my 2 pennies worth.

Someone who went on the knucklehead bash factory tour a few years ago witnessed the process.

The employee applied a small amount of tru oil using a paper towel. Tore off another piece of towel and wiped it straight off.
Did the same with the wax.

When I first did it, I applied the tru oil and let it sit for a long time - big mistake - went all "gloopy" - ended up having to get the gloop off with 0000 wire wool.

So I personally just wipe on amd wipe off - just as they do in the factory. I also no longer use the wax. Again, imo just using the oil gives you a finish just like that on a brand new EBMM - strange I know

 

[luv]

I know this subject has been talked to death on this forum over the years. I agree with spuds approach. I don't leave either the oil or the wax on for more than a minute or two at most.

Spud, why don't you use the wax? Just curious.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I know this subject has been talked to death on this forum over the years. I agree with spuds approach. I don't leave either the oil or the wax on for more than a minute or two at most.

Spud, why don't you use the wax? Just curious.

Hi Luv
Out of my collection of EB guitars, 3 have been brand new and the others second hand.
Consequently, I've loved the feel of the neck brand new from the factory.

The first time I re applied the oil/wax - I made a mess up of it - see above post - when I left the oil on for too long.
Second time I got it right and applied the oil and the wax - not a great deal of oil or wax - just a dab. But I was not happy with the sheen the wax gave it - no big deal - just didn't feel the same.
Next time I just used just the oil and it felt like the factory finish.

Conclusion ? Well the factory uses the wax - and even though I applied a very small amount of wax - maybe that was too much?

Incidentally when around my mates workshop he had just finished re gluing a front to a double bass, he then used a cabinet scraper to remove the old varnish - he wan't going to refinish the front - he intended using just the oil and not the wax. He preferred the finish this way too.

 

[joe web]

spud, i´ll give it a try next time i clean the necks.
so you don´t let the oil dry out, right? just apply and wipe off a minute later.

 

[ozzyrules]

Thanks for all the info,guys. I'm just doing some preventive maintenance. I did a very light application of Murphy's oil soap,let it sit for a few minutes, then wiped it down with a dry rag. I'l try a very light application of the Tru Oil Gunstock Finish. I won't let it sit for more than a minute or so and I'll wipe with dry towel & no wax. I'll let y'all know how it turns out.
Is it ok to use the wonder wipes(fretboard) on the backside of an unfinished neck? Just curious.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Is it ok to use the wonder wipes(fretboard) on the backside of an unfinished neck? Just curious.

yup it's fine for that

 

[straycat113]

I agree with Spuds way and that is also the way I do it, for anyone who has ever played a 10 or 15 year old Ball neck you will find sometimes that however some owners did their necks it made them seem as if they had a finish on them and I

 

[joe web]

if you are using the WW on the backside of the neck, don´t let it sit too long. just apply and wipe off a minute later. otherwise the neck will get to oily - it´s originally made for rosewood fretboards which need a bit more oil by the time as maple necks.

 

[Spudmurphy]

spud, i´ll give it a try next time i clean the necks.
so you don´t let the oil dry out, right? just apply and wipe off a minute later.

Hiya Joe

Oh man I got in a right mess when i first did it. It was about 5 years ago so can't remember how long I let it "sit" on the neck.
Ever since I read the report from the factory tour, I do as they do.
Wipe it on - wipe it well in. Throw the paper towel away, tear off another paper towel and buff it up. The oil is on there for less than a minute. Who knows - maybe the birchwood casey oil I had was old stock? - but that's what I do and everything has been fine since - nice new guitar by the way, you lucky thing you !!!

 

[straycat113]

Ooops lol, believe it is because they left on the oil and wax to long during cleanings over the years. So I also just apply wait a minute and wipe good.

 

[joe web]

Hiya Joe

Oh man I got in a right mess when i first did it. It was about 5 years ago so can't remember how long I let it "sit" on the neck.
Ever since I read the report from the factory tour, I do as they do.
Wipe it on - wipe it well in. Throw the paper towel away, tear off another paper towel and buff it up. The oil is on there for less than a minute. Who knows - maybe the birchwood casey oil I had was old stock? - but that's what I do and everything has been fine since -

i always let it sit for one or two hours and polished the neck with a dry cloth afterwards before applying the wax. never had any kind of sticky felling on the necks.
so i was a little confused as i read your post above.
but i´ll your way - the best thing is, it doesn´t take so much time!

nice new guitar by the way, you lucky thing you !!!

thanks mate!

 

[Spudmurphy]

One thing though - the neck on my EVH has a lovely patina to it

I s'pose if this was sanded regularly it would not have got it. So I would say not to do it too often.

 

[luv]

I agree with Spuds way and that is also the way I do it, for anyone who has ever played a 10 or 15 year old Ball neck you will find sometimes that however some owners did their necks it made them seem as if they had a finish on them and I

Agreed. I've had two Balls that were 10ish years old, and I would have sworn there was a satin finish on them. Didn't like it.....but that's where the sandpaper came into play.

 

[Hoffmann]

Is it ok to use the wonder wipes(fretboard) on the backside of an unfinished neck? Just curious.

I asked the customer service about using the wonder wipes on the backside of the unfinished maple neck. As Spud says, it's totally ok to use it there as well. However, it does not substitute the periodic oiling and waxing. Since it is something totally different than this procedure it can be used more often compared to the oiling or waxing. Whereas the latter should only be done probably only one or maybe two times a year, you can use the wonder wipes frequently (every week is absolutely fine) - if you really need to!

However, I believe I will use them not tooo often. I wanted to see what happens (sounds stupid, maybe it was) when applying the wonder wipes and used in on my brand new AL after only a week or so. I believe I let it "sit" on the neck a bit too long before I wiped everything off with a paper towel. The neck felt a little sticky and somewhat different compared to before. However, after using plenty of paper towels, the polishing cloth AND after playing it some hours everything is brilliant right now three days later. Maybe it's a good idea to use all these cleaning and maintaining things in only small quantities and let them sit on the neck for only a very short time.

Just in case it might be a help for someone else, here's the very kind and fast information from CS about using the wonder wipes:

"1) you can use the fretboard wonderwipes on the whole neck.

2) everyday use is fine. You do not need to worry about "over-using"; you can wipe off excess oil with a clean cloth (make sure it will not leave particles on the neck).

3) The wonderwipes do not substitute the oiling and waxing (detailed in the care info below); you must periodically oil and wax the neck.

4) The polish in the bottle is different thean the wonder wipes instrument polish. The polish in the bottle is a water based polish. The polish on the wipes has an oil base that cleans as well as polishes.

5) using either polish once a week, or after every long gig, is not overuse."

Hope this helps! The customer shop is great!

Marian

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Think of it this way.

The tru-oil is a very, very, very thin coat of paint.
The wax is a coat of wax (duh, right?)

Every now and then, you'll wear out the wax and start to wear the paint. Eventually, you could get through the paint to the wood. By periodically "repainting", you get back to original finish and feel. And the first thing to do with a bottle of tru oil is to rip the directions off the bottle and throw them away. On for 45 seconds then wipe off. Wait maybe 20 minutes and repeat. Wait for (some nebulous amount of time...I waited overnight) and apply a good car carnauba wax in a very small amount. Work it in and buff it off.

You can sand that finish off and start all over again. I learned with my sub-1 that after the paint is off and the tru-oil and wax are successfully on, that it's not as stressful as I thought it was.