Oil for fretboard?

[leevan_lee]

I got this Old English Lemon Oil for Conditioning and Protecting.

How do I clean my freatboard?
How much do i put?
Is it simply wipe and leave to dry?

[DonP]

First thing to do is to throw that stuff away and get some of this:

http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

This web site will have tips on how to clean.

Also get Dan Erlewine's books on guitar repair and upkeep.

[MartinBarre]

First thing to do is to throw that stuff away and get some of this:

http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

This web site will have tips on how to clean.

Also get Dan Erlewine's books on guitar repair and upkeep.

I wouldn't throw it away, presumably you researched it before buying it Lee so are happy with what it's supposed to do.
I agree on getting one of Erlewine's books - but at the same time, I've had both of his books and they both recommend different fretboard treatments. I use Linseed Oil as he recommends that in one book, but IIRC he recommends lemon oil in the other one.
Like anything else, it's about personal preference.

[Cleveland Metal]

Both have their uses...

Not really a fan of Linseed... On guitars at least.

[straycat]

Lemon oil if fine just don't use too much or let it sit on there too long. You don't want it to seep under the frets.
I drip a little on the fretboard and then work it in with my fingers let sit for a minute then wipe off with a paper towel.After it dries wipe with another paper towel to get the residue off.
If you have a very dirty fretboard and gunk up next to the frets take an old credit card and scrape with the grain of the wood not in the direction of the fret.A razor blade will work too just don't press down too hard.
Never use water to clean a fretboard.There have been a few posts on what happens when you do this .
There are other products out there which work fine.Some contain water so read the label.
I don't use linseed oil cause it smells like shit and I don't want to hand a paying customer a smelly guitar.
BTW if you have a maple fretboard you can clean AND polish at the same time the frets with 0000 steel wool with the grain of wood.This works for ebony too.

[Foulacy]

what i do with oil, is cover the top of the bottle with a towel and then turn the bottle upside down. (but the top is that little hole, which is good, you don't want to put much oil on! i actually use that little bottle of gibsons luthier choice oil) then i dab that on about 3-4 of the lower frets. then i rub that in evenly on that part of the board. then i repeat with the rest of the board, of course by the time you get to the higher frets, the same amount covers like 6-8 frets. there's harm in both too much oil, and too little oil. so really, don't overdo it. you cant turn back if you put too much oil on.

[Matt_B]

First thing to do is to throw that stuff away and get some of this:

http://www.beafifer.com/boredoctor.htm

This web site will have tips on how to clean.

Also get Dan Erlewine's books on guitar repair and upkeep.

Fret Doctor is bore oil which can be easily purchased at any music store that carries woodwind supplies (e.g. good clarinets are made from ebony so they need bore oil).

[Spivonious]

Isn't Old English like Pledge? If so, DO NOT PUT IT ON YOUR GUITAR NECK. It will severely dry it out and put a wax buildup that is very hard to get off.

Go to a guitar store, and buy lemon oil there.

[skorb]

Isn't Old English like Pledge? If so, DO NOT PUT IT ON YOUR GUITAR NECK. It will severely dry it out and put a wax buildup that is very hard to get off.

+1

that is not for your guitar man

[Da' Melta']

I used Linseed Oil for a long time. I happened to meet the cat who started this company and he gave me free bottles of the polish and the fretboard conditioner (for rosewood and ebony). Great stuff!

http://www.lizardspit.com/
Good Luck!

[Cleveland Metal]

Isn't Old English like Pledge? If so, DO NOT PUT IT ON YOUR GUITAR NECK. It will severely dry it out and put a wax buildup that is very hard to get off.

Go to a guitar store, and buy lemon oil there.

Ummm, Old English makes many products.... They make furniture polish, that you don't want to use on a fretboard. AND, they also make lemon oil, which you would be ok using on a fretboard.

And, it would be much cheaper than going to a guitar store and buying their lemon oil... Nothing wrong or bad about Old English branded Lemon Oil.

That's like saying don't buy Dow Chemical brand Lemon Oil cuz it will napalm your axe, haha...

[Dogbone]

I've used Old English Lemon oil in the past, worked fine... Just make sure that is all it is. Like stated above, there are different versions.

[Tim_B]

right or wrong, this is what I do ...

strings off
spray Dunlop Lemon oil over the fretboard, and wipe with a soft cloth to get even coverage.
Leave to soak for about an hour
lots of rubbing with a soft cloth to lift the dirt, then more rubbing with another, clean cloth to 'dry' the fretboard
re-string, tune, and enjoy the wonderful slippery clean feeling

I don't know the reason why, but I've been told more than once NEVER to use lemon oil on maple fingerboards, but that it's ok on rosewood and ebony .. anyone know more about this ?

[Dogbone]

I do believe the biggest reason why people say not use Lemon oil on a Maple board is that it will discolor it... I don't know... Lemon oil is the only thing I've used on a Maple board :think::think: So maybe I've been going about it the wrong way for the past 15 years :think: Can't really say that I have noticed any discoloring though
Maybe someone else can shed a little light on the subject.

[shadowcat]

Does anybody know if this bore doctor / fret doctor stuff or anything similar exists in Germany?