Thunderbird Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Is it a good way to make your frets nice and shiny if so what grade of wire wool do you guys recommend? or not really a good idea to wire wool the frets? Thanks in advance Quote
verb Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I've heard people use very fine wire wool to polish frets before,never used it myself,but mask off your pickups or they will be covered in tiny bits of wire wool. I polished my frets with Solvol Autosol metal polish about a year ago,coincidently,I'm cleaning my fretboard tonight with lemon oil and the lemon oil is removing the tarnish leaving the frets shiny again. I protected the fretboard with masking tape when I used the Autosol. Quote
Pete1967 Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Tape off the fretboard between the frets with masking tape, cutting it in carefully with a scalpel when the fret spacing gets too small for a single strip, then use 0000 grade wire wool. Wear gloves or you'll be picking bits of steel out of your fingers for days. Use metal polish for a final shine - I used Duraglit wadding. Alternatively, use a two stage metal buffing wheel kit from Halfords fitted to an electric drill, but if you do that double mask the fretboard and mask the sides of the fretboard too (and the body if you don't remove the neck) because the wheel will get pulled over the edges. Quote
gary mac Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Duraglit did a splendid job on my p bass. This was on a maple fret board though, so no need to mask off. Quote
mcnach Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 maybe a good idea to cover the pickups with masking tape too. You can then put more tape over them to sandwich the bits of wool that got attracted to the pickups and take it all away. Quote
skej21 Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) I never use wire wool as it ends up all over pole pieces etc. Mask off, nice cloth and some T-cut. Polishes them up really nicely and had my 28 year old jazz looking brand new again! :-) Used it on a fair few basses/guitars over the years and it always works a treat. Edited January 30, 2014 by skej21 Quote
Thunderbird Posted January 30, 2014 Author Posted January 30, 2014 Cheers for the replys chaps is very much appreciated Quote
OldG Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 [quote name='skej21' timestamp='1391118327' post='2353595'] I never use wire wool as it ends up all over pole pieces etc. Mask off, nice cloth and some T-cut. Polishes them up really nicely and had my 28 year old jazz looking brand new again! :-) Used it on a fair few basses/guitars over the years and it always works a treat. [/quote] +1, I was gonna type nearly the same... Quote
chris_b Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 Polishing your frets? You're not gigging enough! Quote
Ou7shined Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 Wire wool swarf is an absolute pain if it does get on to your pickups but a job like this is far more manageable with the neck removed (if at all possible)... this being the case, swarf is no longer an issue. Quote
Badass Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 [quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1391119807' post='2353627'] YOu could try Gorgomyte [/quote] Yep Gorgomyte is what I use on all my Basses. Wonderful stuff Quote
mcnach Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 [quote name='Badass' timestamp='1391165618' post='2353930'] Yep Gorgomyte is what I use on all my Basses. Wonderful stuff [/quote] Just checked the Gorgomyte website... what a pain in the arse of a website it is! Absolutely no information, just a collection of band names and players and "this product is awesome" type of "reviews". I just wanted a simple: "our product is this, it does this and that when you use it this way". It may be a good product, whatever it is (cloth... what type? any chemical or does it just rely on it being abrasive?), but I'm unlikely to buy anything on the basis of what's on teh website, which is little more than "hey, give us your money, lots of cool people do already! Join them and be as cool as they are!" Quote
Pete1967 Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1391164491' post='2353914'] Wire wool swarf is an absolute pain if it does get on to your pickups but a job like this is far more manageable with the neck removed (if at all possible)... this being the case, swarf is no longer an issue. [/quote] Totally agree - neck off is the way to go if you can, but obviously not on option for neckthroughs or set necks. Tape pups off and vac up carefully with a brush tool before removing the tape.. then do the dining room table and carpet too if you're married..... Quote
KingBollock Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 My wife uses these little button magnets in her floristry, for holding on corsages without using pins. They're really quite powerful and brilliant for cleaning up wirewool leftovers. Quote
skankdelvar Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) As for masking off the board, I just cut a post-it note in half and stick the two bits either side of the fret (sticky edge butted against the fret). Does about 2 frets before you bin it and start with a new one. Low [s]tech[/s] tack, cheap and half-assed, rather like my playing. Edited January 31, 2014 by skankdelvar Quote
Thunderbird Posted January 31, 2014 Author Posted January 31, 2014 Some great info here guys thanks Quote
largo Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Jif, or is it Cif these days. And then some furniture polish for the neck. I wouldn't bother with wire wool, more hassle than is needed. Quote
Noisyjon Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Another Gorgomyte user here. So simple and easy to use. Thomann sell it if the website is too much of a faff: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ghs_gorgomyte.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/ghs_gorgomyte.htm[/url] Quote
MoonBassAlpha Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrea-Fulerton-Nail-Boutique-Glosser/dp/B005DKAVT2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391262941&sr=8-2&keywords=andrea+fullerton+buffer"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrea-Fulerton-Nail-Boutique-Glosser/dp/B005DKAVT2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391262941&sr=8-2&keywords=andrea+fullerton+buffer[/url] I use these, they give a really good finish. Great on frets too! You can do it without taking the strings off. Edited February 1, 2014 by MoonBassAlpha Quote
iiipopes Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Since maple fingerboards are usually lacquered, yes, indeed, masking tape is a must to keep from wearing through. Quote
Grangur Posted February 5, 2014 Posted February 5, 2014 [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1391170527' post='2354020'] My wife uses these little button magnets in her floristry, for holding on corsages without using pins. They're really quite powerful and brilliant for cleaning up wirewool leftovers. [/quote] Excellent! Is she available for this weekend? Quote
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