best way to clean fret wire...

[hamertek98]

I'm asking everyone what the best way to clean the fret wire on a guitar is. I've always used very fine steel wool. Sometimes the green poop comes back really quick on the metal. I usually wipe the neck off really good, after playing, but it doesn't seem to help. My basses aren't left in a trailer.... they go inside a house everynight.

Anyway, is there any chemicals that anybody uses that works to keep the green off of the fret wires? It only happens on my newer Cruise basses.

Thanks for any info!

DeWayne

[tafkathundernotes]

I have a friend that uses cymbal polishing paste on a dremel tool buffing tip. It would seem that the excess could get into the grain of the rosewood. I used it once myself, but I taped off the fretboard before using it. There's similar stuff called Simichrome polish available at auto parts stores if you can't find the Zildjian paste.

[bach]

I haven't tried this yet, but it looks less messy..

New Fret-Polishing System From Planet Waves

[tomteriffic]

A jewelers polishing cloth (red one side, yellow on the other) does wonders.

[silentman]

very fine wet sandpaper like 8000 grit will polish em up nice, and will not ruin your fretboard - no taping necessary.

[tgoss]

That fret polishing system from Planet Waves works great. The rep gave us a sample pack and we use it whenever we do a restring. Makes those frets shine really nice.

If you have a non-maple neck you may want to consider giving it a lemon oil treatment. Alot of crud gets into the wood itself and the oil helps condition the wood and clean it out. Your problem may be related to both things.

[SteveC]

I used to use 0000 steel wool. Not now. Too messy, have to tape-off the pickups, etc.

About 5 or 6 years ago, BCRGreg turned me on to the best method I've ever used:

Fingernail salons use a variety of abrasive sticks about the size of a tongue depressor to finish nails. They have a "combination" stick that is dark gray on one side (fine grit), and half white (extra fine grit) / half light gray (super fine polishing grit) on the other side. They run about 2 bucks each. I think StewMac also sells these. StewMac also sells thin steel fretguards (kind of look like an oversized razor blade with a fret-shaped slot in the middle. You just place this over the fret you're working on (it protects the fingerboard), and work your way through progressively finer grits with the polishing stick until each fret shines! Plus, no mess!

The stick & fretguard fit easily in a Hamer guitar case compartment.

StevieC

[tgoss]

For those of you who remember taking drafting class in high school, those little metal strips with the slot were called eraser shields. I wonder if they're cheaper at an art supply store than Stew-Mac?

[Guest Mike Lee]

A while ago I bought a Dunlop Formula 65 guitar care kit, and it came with a very fine abrasive cloth for polishing frets. Not sure what it is but it's the best thing I've found.

[stobro]

I get pretty good results using Meguiar's "Scratch X Fine Scratch and Swirl Remover" to polish frets as well as just about every other surface on a guitar.

-Brandon

[hamertek98]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! If any of the dealers can send me the planet waves stuff would be great. I should have said in my first post.... the reason all the gunk is on my newer Cruise basses is that's all I use. Any dealers that has that..I'll give you an order.

Thanks to all! DeWayne

[kurtsstuff]

I use a dewalt 3 horse power air grinder with 12 grit paper on it...Damn it's hell on the fret board but talk about gettin all the crud off your frets!!

[JJ Paul]

Flitz.

Will remove "milkiness" from hardware/frets and works great on gold as well.

Used it over here to recondition guitars that I picked up for cheap since the hardware had "oxhidated". You wouldn't believe the polishing effect of the stuff...

Shame I can't find it in Switzerland or Italy

JJ