- Thread starter Rokstar
- Start date
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
There have been quite a few discussions on Lemon oil usage on the forum, and from what I remember, the people against using it say that :-
1) Too much use of lemon oil can cause a smelly build up.
2) Too much use of lemon oil can make yer frets more prone to movement _ I guess this thought arises because some luthiers will use a good dousing of lemon oil the day before to make the removal of frets less damaging to the fretboard.
Note the common denominator "too much".
Now I'm not saying that I'm 100% right on this but liberal amounts of Lemon oil used on a maple fretboard should not cause damage.
I have used lemon oil for close on 2 years - no problem.
I have advised fellow ALOC member Travs to use it - and he loves the results.
A luthier friend uses Johnsons Baby (mineral) oil on maple and rosewood necks.
I have just started using EB Wonderwipes (Fretboard conditioner) and so far I like what I have seen.
So to sum up my ramblings - I bleeb that small amounts of Lemon oil used on a maple fretboard will cause no damage (the defense rests m'lud.)
Now watch me get flamed by the "prosecution"
Sweat
Well-known member
Lemon oil used properly is OK, I prefer the WW fretboard conditioner, but also must be used properly.
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
Fing - Are there instructions for the correct useage, on the container of Wonder Wipes?
Sweat
Well-known member
Spud,
Not really unless you try to digest them
Beth or someone fron CS posted a thread quite awhile back on usage.
basically, rosewood fretboard just wipe on and let soak in, maple fretboard wipe on lightly then clean with a polish type cloth do not allow to penetrate, same with the back of the neck, i have done this with great results.
universe777
Well-known member
I swear by lemon oil on all of my necks. I've been using it for about 10 years without any issue - I haven't found anything better for reconditioning a fret board and taking all of that grime off.
Pretty much I dab enough on to get a nice coverage of that portion of the fingerboard (I typically concentrate on 3 or 4 frets at a time) and just let it sit on there for a minute or so to soften up any gunk then wipe it clean paying careful attention to wipe off ALL of the oil and residue.
A word of caution: I use Dunlop lemon oil and on the package it states...Not for use on Maple fingerboards, so i'd be wary if that's the case for you.
Pretty much I dab enough on to get a nice coverage of that portion of the fingerboard (I typically concentrate on 3 or 4 frets at a time) and just let it sit on there for a minute or so to soften up any gunk then wipe it clean paying careful attention to wipe off ALL of the oil and residue.
A word of caution: I use Dunlop lemon oil and on the package it states...Not for use on Maple fingerboards, so i'd be wary if that's the case for you.
Hmmm, this is good to know. I tend to slop Old Murphy on pretty good and let it really soak in then wipe it off. I'd better use a lot less. It seems to make the neck feel really good is why I do it. Is the Birchwood gun oil and wax more for a type of finish on the neck as apposed to cleaning it?
universe777
Well-known member
I forgot to mention...waxes! I would never wax the fretboard, but when maintaining the back of my necks I also swear by Microcrystaline wax. It's very expensive (if memory serves me correctly they treat the constitution with it every couple of years, if it's good enough to protect a national treasure it's good enough for my axes!) , but you've never felt anything like it - i think it's like $20 for a small tin of it...i promise, if you try it once you'll never go back to anything caranuba based!
RENAISSANCE Microcrystalline WAX POLISH
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
Jongitarz once said that a small application of wax on an EB neck is ok (small!) - and I know that ALOC trooper Travs meant that. ha!
