RyanLloyd Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hey there, Just recently bought a new Gibson Explorer which has a Rosewood fret board, and am about to order some 0000 steel wire wool to get the slight oxidation on the frets. I've been looking online and most websites recommend putting masking tape on the fret board to avoid the risk of any damage to the wood from the wool, although won't this leave any residue/adhesive on the wood once it has been removed? Any chemical I should avoid while polishing the rosewood? (Apologize if this is in the wrong section of these forums) Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Get the painters tape, put it on your jeans for a second then put it on the guitar. The little threads from your jeans will take away some of the sticky so the tape doesn't stick so hard. Even though painters tape doesnt have much of stick in the first place... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikekefr Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 You could also cut a fret size slit in a playing card or something sacrifical.It will take the scratches for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Get the painters tape, put it on your jeans for a second then put it on the guitar. The little threads from your jeans will take away some of the sticky so the tape doesn't stick so hard. Even though painters tape doesnt have much of stick in the first place... And use that same painters tape to mask off your pickups or you're gonna have little wire wool bits in them forever!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Dremel tool, buffing wheel, light touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 They sell painters tape with different levels of stickyness, go with the weakest. it is indicated in its wrapping. Use the finest steel wood you can find and finish off to a to buff with Turtle Wax polishing compound. If polishing compund gets between the fret and fingerboard simply brush it off with a dry tooth brush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat-o-steve Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 It wont hurt to rub the board with the 0000 steel wool either. In fact, that will help you clean the board if it gets real funky, and will allow lemon oil or some other fretboard conditioner to penetrate to wood better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinh Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 You can get some nice metal fretboard guards from Stewart-MacDonald for a few bucks that will protect the wood while you work on the frets. They're especially good if you use a Dremel polishing wheel. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Polishing_and_abrasives/Fingerboard_Guards.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=3220 I've never heard of masking tape messing up a fretboard, but I have known it to pull binding off! Fortunately, I assume the Explorer has none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Good for board protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanLloyd Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Thanks for all the replies! I was tempted to buy the fingerboard guards although I'd have to take delivery from the US to the UK and wait a few weeks to get them . Amazingly they don't sell these over here in the UK (from what I've searched on the internet). Just bought some Everbuild low tack masking tape (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150709568528?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_792) hopefully it'll be harmless to my fret board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Scotch Brite is a good alternative and readily excessable. No worries about steel fibers muckin things up either, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 And... Fold it in half and run it with the board it will clean the gunk off of the fret board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanLloyd Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 I'll keep that in mind Axe, pretty sure I got some of that stuff in the house somewhere! But I've ordered the steel wool and tape now, but I'll definitely give it a try if all else fails Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I use steel wool once in a while. You can use masking tape (or painter's tape) to cover the fretboard. But you really don't need to. The steel wool is fine to run across the fretboard, just don't snag it on the fret ends. Like axe said, scotch brite works good, too. Especially to get any gunk off the board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Scotch Brite is a good alternative and readily excessable. No worries about steel fibers muckin things up either, Word. Steel wool is banned from my shop. Fuzzy magnets suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryUK Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I use steel wool and then metal polish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Word. Steel wool is banned from my shop. Fuzzy magnets suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanLloyd Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 Word. Steel wool is banned from my shop. Fuzzy magnets suck. I'll keep that In mind.. I don't want no steel wool falling into my open pickups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-poland Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Good for board protection. I thought that was Duane Vs JOB!? [scared] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Planetwaves do a good fret polish paper. Its costs about a fiver... Its easy to use, very effective, dont need oils or chemicals and you cant get it wrong. The pack comes with a slotted card for protecting the board.. You can even get it on the bay!! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Planet-Waves-PW-FRP-Fret-Polishing-System-Free-P-P-/230744145995?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item35b96c404b#ht_499wt_1185 Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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