Fret polishing...

Jack_

So, I've been undertaking far more maintenance work lately.

I've been using Planet Waves Fret Polishing System, and it does a good job of making the top of the frets nice and shiny and clean, but when you look down the neck from either end, you can see grime on the sides of the frets, and it's awkward/impossible to remove using a fine grit sheet like the PW Kit.

Would masking & steel wool do a better job? Also, I've seen those metal plate fret things, are these a worthwhile investment, will it save masking? If the metal thing is too thick, won't it prevent getting to the deep sides of the frets anyway?

Twinfan

I mask the fretboard and then use Brasso on my frets if they look a bit tarnished/grubby.

Sassafras

Liberon Ultrafine 0000 steel wool works a treat.
I cover the pickups with cling film taped down on the guitar to stop those pesky iron filings getting into the pickups.
Fret protectors are OK but I find it just as easy to mask the board.

guitars4you

mask the board then silver duraglit wadding/polish when more 'grubby' - prefer this to steel wool as I hate those little filing bits - then often that PW  polish cloth on the tops to 'polish'

Jack_

I Have some Liberon 0000, but I might go and get the Brasso, because of the filings.

Does masking tape matter? I'm thinking the 3M stuff should be ideal?

Sassafras

Also, you'd be surprised at how much grime you can remove from the frets with a stiff nail brush or even a toothbrush.

guitarblaster

Gorgomyte/miracle cloths are amazing! Frets come up sparkling. 

Twinfan

Jack_ said:

I Have some Liberon 0000, but I might go and get the Brasso, because of the filings.

Does masking tape matter? I'm thinking the 3M stuff should be ideal?

Anything not-too-tacky will do, it's just to protect the fretboard.

Jack_

guitars4you said:

mask the board then silver duraglit wadding/polish when more 'grubby' - prefer this to steel wool as I hate those little filing bits - then often that PW  polish cloth on the tops to 'polish'

So I chose your method, and wow! Brasso wadding with masking tape and they've come up beautifully.

Evilmags

Silvo is even better than Brasso. Do it every string change. 

Gassage

Ketchup is better than either. Honestly.

Kalimna

Autosol too, but as above - mask the fingerboard well.

Adam

Jack_

The wadding was great because I can just pull chunks off and use it, rather than needing to use a cloth or such with Autosol.

Did a good enough job for me, so will be my go to now, easy and good.

WezV

I would still wire wool the board and frets with the 0000 liberon stuff  if it's particularly funky.  Then mask the board and polish the frets to get them super shiny.


acoustics always seem the worst as people change the strings so infrequently.  It an be feckin gross

WezV

here are some pics i took of one once... typical folky acoustic type who hadn't changed the strings in 10 years

this is halfway through rubbing back the grime with the wire wool




totally clean now and the frets are nice and shiny, but removing the protective layer of grime can leave the board a bit dry


but a re-oil and another rub down leaves it all good again




anyway - don't forget to clean the board too!!!!

Sassafras

Gassage said:

Ketchup is better than either. Honestly.

I dread to think what you put on your chips.