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Lemon Oil


TheGreek
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I use Lemon Oil, the Dunlop stuff, and it does a very good job. Never noticed it drying the fretboard or enslaving it. I get good results in maple, rosewood and even in my TRB's ebony FB. I only use it when that time for a complete cleanup comes, about once a year, and when i get a new used bass.

IME what dries the FB is the way we clean it before applying the oil. I've stopped using alcohol a long time ago as it was the worst thing to use even though the most eficient way to remove years of gunk setting in. Now i clean the FBs with a old tooth brush and a damp cloth, leave it to dry for a bit, apply the oil and let it soak in for a couple of minutes and remove the excess with a dry cloth buffing it to shine. Results have been perfect and durable.

I've bought a bottle of Birchwood-Casey gunstock oil when i got my SR5 some years ago, it was the brand recommended by EBMM at that time, it's very rare to use it as it can stain the maple a bit and is a bit sticky. I'll keep using the lemon oil.

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[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1467637594' post='3085004']
IME birchwood casey gunstock oil should not stick, not even a little bit.
[/quote]

Yep, but it does, not much, only a bit but enough to leave me with that dirty/sticky fingers sensation. After a while and some more dry cloth scrubbings it fades away. It's still a good product, i wasn't dissing it, it's just not for ME. ;)

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I just use high quality solid polish on my fretboards and normal spray polish on lacquered parts. Lemon oil is literally mineral oil (wd40) with an added lemon scent, So personally, I don't use it.

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WD40 is fish oil, not mineral, at least originally. Neither is lemon oil afaik, unless you have a reliable source?

What polish? The stuff on your shoes?

I tried the Ernie Ball wonder wipes the other day, one for the fretboard, one for the body/finished parts, one for strings. Worked fine but didn't last long.

In the end what works for you, works.

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[quote name='Smythe' timestamp='1467960343' post='3087525']
Lemon oil is literally mineral oil (wd40) with an added lemon scent,
[/quote]

No it isn't. We've covered this one already (post #18 on the previous page), and it's now starting to get a bit tedious:

[url="http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/lemon.htm"]http://www.essential...-oils/lemon.htm[/url]

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh7bA1Ou_1k"]https://www.youtube....h?v=hh7bA1Ou_1k[/url]


While we're at it, wd40 isn't mineral oil. It's precise formulation is a trade secret; it contains mineral oils among it's ingredients - sort of, but other stuff as well. (It's not fish oil either BTW.)

[url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40[/url]

[url="http://wd40.com/cool-stuff/myths-legends-fun-facts"]http://wd40.com/cool...gends-fun-facts[/url]

Edited by leftybassman392
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[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1467974667' post='3087681']

Interesting gorgomyte: a website dedicated to selling a product without one image of said product. oO
[/quote]


It's just a cloth about 3 or 4' square. I'm sure we don't need a photo to imagine what it looks like. :P

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[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1467981562' post='3087781']
It's just a cloth about 3 or 4' square. I'm sure we don't need a photo to imagine what it looks like. :P
[/quote]

Nope...can't get it. I have no concept of a cloth square. ;)

Seriously though...if it was me I'd still put photos on the website...because reasons!

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[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1467982168' post='3087787']
Seriously though...if it was me I'd still put photos on the website...because reasons!
[/quote]

Yeah, I suppose a small photo would be beneficial in selling the product. However, this did not stop a guitarist friend of mine from buying it. He said he was delighted with it. No more protecting the FB while you clean the frets. He has only used less than half of the sheet, having bought it about two years ago. Not bad for $9. ;)

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  • 2 months later...

I've tended to clean my basses with Pledge in the past, never used oil on anything.

Noticing the board on my Lull was looking a bit dry (I can't put it any better than that), so I bought some Rotosound lemon oil (Amazon/£6.00).

Amazing results really. I applied it with some Bounty paper and the board colour has taken on a beautiful deep brown lustre from the original shade best described as ginger biscuit. It was a joy watching the colour change.

Brilliant. It's just a shame I'll have to wait another six months until the next application.

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[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1465918464' post='3072097']
Just given the Silk Bass a light coat of Lemon Oil - I didn't realise how much difference it makes to bringing out the colour and grain - smells lovely too. Using Linseed Oil always reminds me of putty.

How often should I use the Lemon Oil on the (ebony) fretboard?
[/quote]

In my opinion Linseed is far superior. Lemon oil tends to dry wood out and sends it crispy, I've noticed over the years how dry lemon oil sends the fretboards of my basses compared to that of Linseed or mixed mineral oils...

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