artcrocker
Well-known member
Wondered what oil players use on their fretboard, and or other maintenance tips?
Fretboard care?
- Thread starter artcrocker
- Start date
ukeeku
Well-known member
I use this on all my fretboards
http://www.amazon.com/Gibson-Luthie...8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1301490026&sr=1-3
I only do it when I am changing strings. Beside that I love the Martin guitar poilsh when I clean them. Just dont get the oil on the body, it will stain it
http://www.amazon.com/Gibson-Luthie...8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1301490026&sr=1-3
I only do it when I am changing strings. Beside that I love the Martin guitar poilsh when I clean them. Just dont get the oil on the body, it will stain it
Gmoney
Well-known member
I REALLY like the LoPrinzi Fingerboard conditioner sold through Uke Republic:
http://cargo.ukerepublic.com/product/loprinzi-fingerboard-conditioner
Good stuff! Mike uses it w/his setups on new ukes & I like to keep a bottle w/my string changing supplies.
GX9901
Well-known member
I use Howard's Feed n' Wax on my fretboards whenever I change strings. It seem to work well.
ichadwick
Well-known member
Good furniture oil - teak oil for example- is good, but don't use furniture polish or anything like Windex or other cleaning solutions. These have detergents that will dry the fretboard out unless you immediately oil it afterwards.
steelie211
Well-known member
Is lemon oil ok to use on rosewood and ebony?
didgeridoo2
Well-known member
I just recently treated a fret board with this product:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=15885556
We had it for our bamboo cutting board and the ingredients all check out. Seed oil, lemon oil, vitamin e and Carotene. It keeps the cutting board in great shape and just a little bit did a nice job on both my fret board and bridge. Not heavy or sticky and no wax. Available at bed bath and beyond.
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=15885556
We had it for our bamboo cutting board and the ingredients all check out. Seed oil, lemon oil, vitamin e and Carotene. It keeps the cutting board in great shape and just a little bit did a nice job on both my fret board and bridge. Not heavy or sticky and no wax. Available at bed bath and beyond.
strumsilly
Well-known member
I'm using the bore oil that came with my wife's clarinet care kit. seems to work fine. I've also used lemon oil, which seems to work fine too.
kenikas
Well-known member
I agree, Howard's works great,and smells good too! You can get it at your local Home Labrynth and it's very reasonably priced (cheap!), I only use it once a year or so, so a bottle should last my lifetime.
bassfiddlesteve
Well-known member
+1. The LoPrinzi's make this formula themselves and it really keep the fretboards looking good without being too oily. Nice smell too.
- Steve
Doc_J
Well-known member
+1 on the Howards Feed and Wax and
+1 on Lemon Oil (Planet Wave)
I use both. You can get Howards at Home Depot, which is a plus.
+1 on Lemon Oil (Planet Wave)
I use both. You can get Howards at Home Depot, which is a plus.
Please please be careful - this is a bugbear of mine!
1. Apply very sparingly, and you really need it about once a year if that. To much can damage the wood.
2. Most commercial lemon oil is not lemon oil but synthetic. I wouldnt apply anything synthetic to my ukes. If you can find real lemon oil, then great, but I have struggled. For that reason I use Fret Doctor Bore Oil - its a natural mineral oil that is used by woodwind players for insides of clarinets, bagpipe fifes etc.
See - http://www.gotaukulele.com/2010/12/beginner-tips-cleaning-my-ukulele.html
and -= http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm
1. Apply very sparingly, and you really need it about once a year if that. To much can damage the wood.
2. Most commercial lemon oil is not lemon oil but synthetic. I wouldnt apply anything synthetic to my ukes. If you can find real lemon oil, then great, but I have struggled. For that reason I use Fret Doctor Bore Oil - its a natural mineral oil that is used by woodwind players for insides of clarinets, bagpipe fifes etc.
See - http://www.gotaukulele.com/2010/12/beginner-tips-cleaning-my-ukulele.html
and -= http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm
Moore Bettah Ukuleles
Well-known member
What Paul said.
"Apply very sparingly" is the key, and then only when you feel it's necessary. The problem is that some of this oil, along with other grime, sweat, etc, will work it's way into the fret slot. After a long time it can rot the wood in the slots a bit, causing the frets to loosen. You sometimes see this on older instruments that go into the shop for refretting, the slots can get real gunky. So don't over do it.
"Apply very sparingly" is the key, and then only when you feel it's necessary. The problem is that some of this oil, along with other grime, sweat, etc, will work it's way into the fret slot. After a long time it can rot the wood in the slots a bit, causing the frets to loosen. You sometimes see this on older instruments that go into the shop for refretting, the slots can get real gunky. So don't over do it.
