How to treat Ebony Fingerboard

Kemono · #1 11-11-2006, 03:17 PM

My 8670 is kind of sticky on the fingerboard. How can I clean and treat it?

Dunno what the stickiness is. Sweat, grime, "guitar honey", or ???

Point is: I want to clean and treat the Ebony fingerboard. How do I do it?

Jempy(HoTrOd) · #2 11-11-2006, 04:22 PM

Just read the tech from Rich:

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/grunge/grunge_1.htm

Pretty much everything you want to know is there

Kemono · #3 11-11-2006, 09:12 PM

That's a great tutorial but the guitar has a rosewood board.

I can't do those guitar pick or fingernail scrapes on ebony. Ebony is pretty soft and scratches really easily. I already have some scratches.

The tutorial uses 0000 steel wool right on the board. Is it OK to use the 0000 steel wool on an Ebony board?

Next on the tutorial, there's the use of oil.

Should I use bore oil? I bought some but then I noticed that it was just mineral oil and mineral oil is supposed to be pretty bad for the wood.

Should I get lemon oil? Is Jasco a good brand?

But boredoctor says that oils which contain petroleum are bad (Jasco lemon oil does, I think).

It is an interesting read --> http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

IbanezGirl · #4 11-11-2006, 09:29 PM

I wouldn't recommend using Lemon Oil. It is well known for drying out woods.
I don't have an ebony fretboard so i cannot say what's the best to use for that wood. I'm sure a member here will be able to help you out though.

On my rosewood board i do use Bore Oil - some places call it Fretdoctor?? (same thing) and it works a treat. It's also been recommended to me to use Lindseed Oil, which i haven't tried. I guess you could do a goggle search on the Linseed and ebony and see what comes up

Rich · #5 11-11-2006, 10:54 PM

Ebony is harder than rosewood.

If you like Fretdoctor order that, otherwise any GOOD quality bore oil is fine.

Never use lindseed oil, it's equivalent to a varnish like tung oil.

Lefty Robb · #6 11-11-2006, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kemono

That's a great tutorial but the guitar has a rosewood board.

I can't do those guitar pick or fingernail scrapes on ebony. Ebony is pretty soft and scratches really easily. I already have some scratches.

You sure its Ebony then?

Kemono · #7 11-12-2006, 03:34 AM

Oh, I assumed that rosewood would be harder. I was wrong.

I got some very small indentations on the fingerboard while cleaning it with a rag, using my thumbnail. I stopped that as soon as I noticed that what I was doing was causing indentations. If rosewood scratches easier than that, I guess you have to be *really* careful.

I'll stay away from linseed, tung, any petroleum-based, or mineral oil. IbanezGirl, you are lucky you didn't try linseed oil! Thanks, Rich, for saying not to use that.

"Tha plan" includes:
* 0000 Steel wool
* fretdoctor

* Rich's pinching technique
* follow the golden rule: Go with the grain.

IbanezGirl · #8 11-12-2006, 03:39 AM

Quote:

I'll stay away from linseed, tung, any petroleum-based, or mineral oil. IbanezGirl, you are lucky you didn't try linseed oil! Thanks, Rich, for saying not to use that.

So true, Kemono. The sad thing is, the guys at Ibanez here in OZ recommended the Linseed Oil

but luckily i went with Rich's choice instead

ryanb · #9 11-12-2006, 05:54 PM

Pure linseed oil will basically never dry and will be a sticky mess forever. Boiled linseed oil is like tung oil, and will dry after a while, but can be a pain to use. Lemon oil just dries out the wood. Just stick with the bore oil -- it's cheap, simple, and effective.

frankfalbo · #10 11-14-2006, 02:20 AM

Boiled linseed is also too thick to penetrate Ebony. It'll just rest on the surface.

I can't believe you're denting Ebony from cleaning or rubbing. You're either scratching the top layer of grime, or you think that the slight change in the surface shine is actually a scratch. Ebony is one of the hardest woods available, and will withstand a tremendous amount of abuse.

CrossingStar · #11 11-14-2006, 04:34 PM

What I've discovered from searching for answers on what oil to use is that -- there is no answer. Everybody has a different opinion and I do mean opinion on what to use. Often conflicting ones.

GTR-MAN · #12 11-17-2006, 07:30 AM

BORE OIL !!! lemon oil will not only dry out faster, it contains citric acid and will help corode your frets and any other metal it touches. Even the good guys at Martin post this in their "how to care for your guitar" section.

BORE OIL is the best.