What are some of you using to clean your frets. There are some different ideas out there. Would like to hear your opinions. This is what I am checking into..
I use 0000 steel wool, which will also clean the fingerboard wood (depends on the fingerboard)
I learned this from a Luthier Joseph Wallow.
But now days, Scotch Brite pads will work the same as Steel Wool to polish metal just about.
No, you won't use steel wool on a varnished fingerboard obviously.
You can mask off the fingerboard when polishing the frets if you have a maple / varnished fingerboard.
But on rosewood or ebony steel wool works just dandy.
I could mask off the pickups with tape when I polish the frets....I just vacuum up the dust constantly while I do it.
People use finger-ease (mineral oil) on the fretboard. Mineral oil can be non toxic / food grade.
People cry about steel wool dust sticking to the PU magnets, but I really don't have that problem, just do it carefully.
Or use Scotch Brite pads instead to polish metal.
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SCOTCHBRITE GRIT CHART (courtesy of Charlest) back to top
3M Scotch Brite Nylon Pads:
7445 - White pad, called Light Duty Cleansing - (1000) 1200-1500 grit
7448 - Light Grey, called Ultra Fine Hand - (600-800) 800 grit.
6448 - Green (?), called Light Duty Hand Pad - (600) 600 grit
7447 - Maroon pad, called General Purpose Hand - (320-400) 320 grit
6444 - Brown pad, called Extra Duty Hand - (280-320) 240 grit
7446 - Dark Grey pad, called Blending Pad (180-220) 150 grit
7440 - Tan pad, called Heavy Duty Hand Pad - (120-150) 60(?)
Green Scotch Brite is available EVERYWHERE. It's 600 grit.
Blue Scotch-Brite is considered to be about 1000 grit.
(The value inside the parentheses is directly from 3M.)
3M Chart
Less Aggressive --------> More Aggressive
7445 7448 6448 7447 6444 7446 7440
Finer Finish --------> Coarser Finish
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Well we always used a rubber eraser to clean oxide off metal.
We learned this from slot car tracks.
But an eraser can only go so far, depending on how oxidized the metal is.