After cleaning my RW fretboard, skin oil remains where I play most often. You can see the pattern from across the room. The lemon oil I use cleans the surface, but does not remove the finger-stained areas....just makes them proportionately darker. Would using mineral spirits/naptha, or Murphys Oil Soap, or some other pre-treatment before the final treatment get those oil stains out ? I'm planning to start using F-One oil as the final treatment at the next cleaning..
Finger Oil Remains on RW Fretboard After Cleaning
- Thread starter PCollen
- Start date
Guitarmageddon
Dr. Stratster
Any chance that it's actual wear and slight depressions in the rosewood itself? I've had that happen......
heltershelton
Vivamus libero Vivamus duris
The last thing you want to do is dry you rosewood out with solvents.
And lemon oil is just mineral oil with some fragrance added.
You also dont want to be using lemon or mineral oil all the time.
IF you choose to use oil, make sure to use a very light coat only once or twice a year IF its dry.
Personally, i have never cleaned my rosewood necks.
And lemon oil is just mineral oil with some fragrance added.
You also dont want to be using lemon or mineral oil all the time.
IF you choose to use oil, make sure to use a very light coat only once or twice a year IF its dry.
Personally, i have never cleaned my rosewood necks.
Thrup'ny Bit
Grand Master Curmudgeon
It's more likely that your fingers have polished the rosewood over time.
Paperback Rocker
Do it or screw it.
Too much oil can soften the wood and indentations can form more easily.
Just throwing that out there.
Just throwing that out there.
heltershelton
Vivamus libero Vivamus duris
THATS what i forgot to say.
But yeah, this....
No, the fretboard is consistenty smooth with no "divots".
I think this is perfectly normal and should be appreciated. When I refretted a rosewood board earlier this year I lightly sanded it. It looked brand new... until I got a few tens of hours of play time on it. It's interesting to see where I put my fingers most often, rather than where the previous owner put his. 
Now THAT is a possibility that I didn't think of. The fretboard really isn't, and hasn't been, DIRTY. I have just been giving it a very light coating of lemon oil about once a year, rubbing it in and then immediately wiping it off.
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Lightly touch it with an angle grinder.....
Dreamdancer
Senior Stratmaster
If you lightly sand it like Triple Jim said but right after you proceed in spraying several coats for clear laquer(and follow the finishing steps like you do with a maple one) you ll end up with a glossy finished board that you ll never need to clean or oil again and with better looks too(especially if the rosewood is not some cool looking indian rosewood type).
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If you lightly sand it like Triple Jim said but right after you proceed in spraying several coats for clear laquer(and follow the finishing steps like you do with a maple one) you ll end up with a glossy finished board that you ll never need to clean or oil again and with better looks too(especially if the rosewood is not some cool looking indian rosewood type)
That's a neat idea, but I don't want to get into refinishing a fingerboard if the frets are on it, ever again. I only sanded mine because all the frets were out for the refret job.
When I refretted my maple neck Strat, I refinished the board while the frets were out, and it looks much better than the usual spray over the frets method.
Will Lefeurve
Most Honored Senior Member
Patina.. some pay big money for it.. 
Patina.. some pay big money for it..
...thanks for all the comments. And in closing, I found this video from Martin Guitars that suggests (.... please don't shoot the messenger..!) that 3-in-1 oil can be used on Martin rosewood fretboards.
heltershelton
Vivamus libero Vivamus duris
You CAN use pancake batter if you like, but i i wouldnt recommend it.
Thrup'ny Bit
Grand Master Curmudgeon
Or napalm, it's a free world.You CAN use pancake batter if you like, but i i wouldnt recommend it.
Tuner Sandwich
Strat-O-Master
I just wipe off the Cheetos and keep playing.
bandmaster
Strat-Talker
If the "shiny" spots bother you, use 0000 steel wool to clean the fingerboard. It will take care of it. You can use a cotton rag, like an old T-shirt, put a very small amount of lemon oil (or even better Dr. Ducks Ax Wax) on it and rub it down afterwards.
Don't use too much oil (like lemon oil) on RW, it really doesn't need it. Ebony is a different story, but again even on Ebony very very little oil.
Don't use too much oil (like lemon oil) on RW, it really doesn't need it. Ebony is a different story, but again even on Ebony very very little oil.
