Cleaning a Plain Unfinished Maple Fretboard?

[LenMinNJ]

The unfinished maple fretboard on my 4004Ci bass is looking a bit gray. Does anyone have favorite tips about how to clean it?

I see that Watco Danish Oil has been recommended a few times, applying it and then wiping clean a few times until the wiping cloth comes up clean.

And some folks recommend using Windex, Cory Coconut Wood Cleaner (http://www.corycare.com/product/coconut-wood-cleaner/), naphtha, lighter fluid, or tung oil.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=104241&p=106278&hi ... le#p106278

Any other suggestions? Any experiences about what works best?

[woodyng]

I used Watco's on mine,to great effect. It was pretty grungy when i bought it,and the Watco's cleaned and revitalized it right up.

I clicked on the RRF link you posted,which went back to 2005. Had to go get my Ci out to make sure it wasn't the same one Redvette posted pics of. He's in Medford,Oregon,so i thought it might've been possible the bass i bought used at Apple Row music in Portland a few years ago might have been the same one. (It wasn't.) Also, Hard to believe he picked it up 11 years ago for $500!

[teb]

I've used Watco on gunstocks with great success, but I doubt it is ideal as a cleaning solution. Yes, it may liquefy dirt and grime to an extent, but trying to lift the yuck out with something designed to soak in and polymerize down in the wood seems like a risky way to remove grime. I'd rather go at it with some sort of solvent (naptha, mineral spirits,maybe even teak cleaner, etc.) to get as much dirt out as possible and then use the Watco to finish it off.

I've been having great luck refinishing my old cowboy rifles by stripping them to bare wood and first rubbing on a light coat of Watco and letting it dry for about one hour. This is mostly to make sure that I'm getting even oil penetration. Then I brush on a heavy coat of oil and let it sit for 60-90 minutes. It will thicken up and get quite sticky. Then I take a piece of flannel and start rubbing. At first, it's a gooey mess and you're wondering what sort of monster you have created - but you just keep rubbing and getting excess off the surface. It can take fifteen to twenty minutes to rub out something like a rifle stock, but eventually you will get to a baby-butt-smooth and gorgeous, non-sticky oil finish.

[LenMinNJ]

Thanks Todd & Woody. Great advice.

I'll probably use that Cory Coconut Wood cleaner and then the Watco Danish Oil.

[LenMinNJ]

I tried that Cory Coconut Wood Cleaner and it didn't do very much. The string wear lines on the fretboard are still grey-ish while between them it's reasonably clean and bright.

After that I tried a bit of ammonia-based glass cleaner (Glass Plus/Windex kind of stuff) and lots of paper towels for blotting. No improvement.

Any other ideas before I try the Watco oil? I really don't want to get out the sandpaper.

[clementc3]

Hi Len -

Did you see these threads?

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=382418&p=445555&hi ... ng#p445555

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=363148&hilit=+2060

[LenMinNJ]

Did you see these threads?

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=382418&p=445555&hi ... ng#p445555

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=363148&hilit=+2060

Thanks, Clement!

The first thread is from 2008 and has Paul recommending 000 or 0000 steel wool followed by Watco clear Danish oil.

Todd was concerned about the Danish oil sealing in the dirt. Perhaps if the steel wool really takes out the dirt well, I won't have to be concerned about that.

The second thread is from back in 2007 and the Westley's Bleche Wite that is mentioned doesn't seem to be available anymore. There is something available now called Black Magic Bleche Wite. I wonder if it's the same stuff. Paul didn't mention it again in the 2008 thread, so perhaps the fine steel wool followed by Danish oil is the better solution.

Before I go out and buy some 0000 steel wool to try, does anyone have other suggestions?

[jps]

Todd was concerned about the Danish oil sealing in the dirt.

I would be, too. You really want to get that dirt out and have a nice, clean fingerboard before you go and put a finish on it, otherwise you will just be sealing the dirt in. That may be more work but you will not regret it in the long run, unlike your probable regret by not doing it right.

[LenMinNJ]

I started work on the fretboard with 0000 steel wool. The progress was so slow that I switched to 000. And even so, the progress is still slow.

The top, yellowed layer comes off quickly, but the dirt between the strings is much slower going.

I'll keep at it before I reach for the Watco Danish Oil.

[jps]

You will have to use sandpaper to get the dirt out as it is deep in the wood grain. Well worth doing it right the first time.

[LenMinNJ]

I tried using the latest version of Bleche-Wite (from a company called Black Magic) to clean the fretboard. Didn't do much, if at all.

I then switched to #1 steel wool, and spent a few hours with it on the fretboard. That did the job, though the going was still a bit slow.

As I used it, I could see the powdery wood coming off.

It's almost done now, and when it is, I'll apply the Watco oil.

Looking good!

[admin]

Over the years I have gone from disliking the worn fretboard to embracing it. Brand new versus an old friend. I would be interested in what others have to say in this regard.

[woodyng]

On that subject all-in-all,I'd probably prefer a Laredo with a finished maple fretboard.
The unfinished board on my Ci was really dirty when i got it,and it cleaned up well,but i know i'll need to stay on top of it to keep it from getting dingey again.
On the other hand,it feels fabulous,and if you like a sort of broken in vintage look,that's the ticket.
So maybe i will learn to embrace it more in time,myself.

[jps]

...The unfinished board on my Ci was really dirty when i got it,and it cleaned up well,but i know i'll need to stay on top of it to keep it from getting dingey again...

One of the reasons I unloaded my two Alembic basses years ago was I got tired of endlessly taking off the nut and bridge to polish the un-lacquered brass hardware; what a PITA it was, I was on a monthly schedule doing this.

[rickenbastard]

Over the years I have gone from disliking the worn fretboard to embracing it. Brand new versus an old friend. I would be interested in what others have to say in this regard.

I'm in the same boat. I'll clean off excess gunk when I change my strings but I don't ever plan on selling my basses so I don't mind them getting worn as long as it's not scratched. It's meant to be played and played a lot.