Removal of excessive crud?

[Jacob K]

Hi all.

I just got myself a 89' 540P-II which seems like it has never ever been cleaned before. Behold the crud:


I am using Rich's cleaning guide, and by using a base for warhammer miniatures, I've killed the worst crud. However, there is still long way to go:


I wonder: Will my 0000 steelwool be enough to do the job (especially on the edges of the frets), or should I look into some nasty chemicals before I get busy with the steelwool?

Also, is linseed oil a decent oil to apply to a fretboard, or should I hold my horses and get some specially made stuff?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Should I watch out when steelwooling around the sharktooths?
EDIT2: The reason why I'm asking is because the fingerboard has some deep pores, and they are of course filled with crust. I wonder if I should steelwool all the way into the first level of pores which hold this crust in order to get it cleaned properly, or leave a little tiny bit of crust to be gentle on the fretboard (and for good luck).

[Ayrton]

Use an old toothbrush and scrub with the grain.

[moebius]

If you do use steel wool, either remove the neck or tape up your pickups cause those things are like magnets to steel wool .

[Jacob K]

Ayrton: Unfortunatly, that doesn't seem to be able to deal with really nasty crud - it's fine for removing steelwool, though.

moebius: Whoa, thanks man! Has to be the most work-saving tip I've had today, I taped my pickups within an instant of reading it. Phew.

[michblanch]

I use Synthetic fine steel wool.
Rub with the grain, then oil and wipe down (I use wonderwipes with lemonoil.)
Then I wipe with the wool again. Then another wiping with Wonderwipes, let it dry to a haze, then wipe off.

[GuitarBizarre]

Originally Posted by moebius

If you do use steel wool, either remove the neck or tape up your pickups cause those things are like magnets to steel wool .

Psst... thats because they're magnets...

[Ayrton]

Originally Posted by Jacob K

Ayrton: Unfortunatly, that doesn't seem to be able to deal with really nasty crud - it's fine for removing steelwool, though.

Try using a stiffer brush, or cut down the bristles to make them stiffer.

[Rich]

Use the edge of a pick to get all the heavy stuff off. The rest will soften with oil and just wipe off.

Never continually steel wool a fretbord to clean it, unless you want a scalloped board at some point.

Never do it on the guitar without some serious masking, in fact, just don't do it on the guitar if you do.

[Jacob K]

Whoa, I've been just about to cause a minor catastrophe on myself then, it seems.

I had the idea that the crud would just mix with the oil and sink into the wood, but apparantly I was wrong.

I already spent a lot of energy on rubbing the board, but mostly with a pick/piece of plastic, so the harm is very limited. And luckily, it seems that this was also the first time it ever happened to the guitar, so I guess it can take it just for once.

Seems like I misunderstood the purpose of steelwooling in your Grunge-off, Rich, thanks for putting it straight to me.


I guess I'll just pop to bed and let the guitar rest so that I can wake up to get some good oil tomorrow. Cheers to you all.

[Rich]

Steel wool is to even the board color and sheen out for visual gratification only.

[Jacob K]

Oh well, in that case I'm gonna have a pretty visually gratificating fretboard

[michblanch]

Here watch this.
When he says oil soap, he means Murphys Oil.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24yWr2LRmJY

[moebius]

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Psst... thats because they're magnets...

Thus the smiley face .

[GuitarBizarre]

Originally Posted by moebius

Thus the smiley face .

I know :P

[moebius]

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

I know :P

Ahh good man!