Thunderbird Posted January 30, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verb Posted January 30, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1967 Posted January 30, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted January 30, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted January 30, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted January 30, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 Cheers for the replys chaps is very much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 YOu could try Gorgomyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldG Posted January 31, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Polishing your frets? You're not gigging enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted January 31, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badass Posted January 31, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted January 31, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1967 Posted January 31, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted January 31, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted January 31, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Some great info here guys thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largo Posted February 1, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted February 1, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted February 1, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Since maple fingerboards are usually lacquered, yes, indeed, masking tape is a must to keep from wearing through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 5, 2014 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.