What's the deal with Dunlop Lemon Oil & maple fretboards

[Vladimir]

I'just popped open the Dunlop Guitar cleaning kit and on the Lemon Oil fretboard cleaner it says "not to use with maple necks".
What damage can it do?

 

[LarsOS]

It makes the neck take off like a solid fuel rocket booster. Don't do it.

On a more serious note, good question. I'd like to know the answer.

 

[soulman969]

Maple fret boards are sealed with a gloss or semi gloss finish and the lemon oil won't penetrate the wood like it does on rosewood or ebony. It's not a matter of damaging it it's just not gonna penetrate so it leaves an oily residue on the fret board.

Even when the finish is worn maple just isn't a porous wood so it doesn't absorb the oil. I just wipe mine down with a damp cloth after I play.

 

[gatego]

I used lemon oil on a road worn neck - it makes the spots with no laquer darker and they look used.
If the fretboard is not worn I go along with souldman's opinion.
But if you like worn necks without stains, don't use lemon oil

cu
gatego

 

[Nick JD]

Might melt nitro finishes.

 

[jefrs]

Dunlop Lemon Oil is a solvent cleaner that contains no "wood oils" (linseed and tung derivatives), certainly nothing to penetrate and preserve rosewood fretboards. It has never been anywhere near a lemon apart from the citrus scent which in all probability is artificial. Like the "orange citrus" degreasers for the kitchen, it removes gunge.

For sealed maple fretboard, try using soap and water, car "detailing spray" (no-wax types) or kitchen hard surface cleaner/disinfectant spray (Dettol).

 

[Tonetele]

I use a little lemon and water-seriously!

 

[Vladimir]

Ok, but I only wanted to use it to clean up the strings (elixirs) and the fretboard from guck. It does kinda feel fast and slippery.

 

[Jupiter]

I wonder if it could get under the finish if you had a crack or worn spot....

 

[GigsbyBoyUK]

You don't want use lemon oil to clean a fingerboard or strings.

I use WD40 for both - spray a little amount on a cloth, wipe to clean strings and/or fingerboard, then wipe dry with a clean cloth.

 

[soulman969]

Dunlop Lemon Oil is a solvent cleaner that contains no "wood oils" (linseed and tung derivatives), certainly nothing to penetrate and preserve rosewood fretboards. It has never been anywhere near a lemon apart from the citrus scent which in all probability is artificial. Like the "orange citrus" degreasers for the kitchen, it removes gunge.

For sealed maple fretboard, try using soap and water, car "detailing spray" (no-wax types) or kitchen hard surface cleaner/disinfectant spray (Dettol).

Well then that would make it quite useless for treating any kind of wood wouldn't it? Thanks I didn't know that about their product. Never used it.

 

[Vladimir]

You don't want use lemon oil to clean a fingerboard or strings.

I use WD40 for both - spray a little amount on a cloth, wipe to clean strings and/or fingerboard, then wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Are you certain this won't do any damage? I mean that stuff melts ice.

 

[GigsbyBoyUK]

15 years of using WD40 and no damage so far.

 

[jefrs]

Well then that would make it quite useless for treating any kind of wood wouldn't it? Thanks I didn't know that about their product. Never used it.

It /is/ very good at cleaning gunge and detritus off, which is what it is for - basically your sweat and dead skin.

If you want to treat rosewood then use "teak oil", sparingly every few years, and then only if the fretboard looks very dry.

 

[flyingbanana]

WD 40 is supposed to be good for alleviating arthritis pain too.

 

[jefrs]

If you want to clean strings then try using isopropyl alcohol.

 

[FenderGuy53]

Go to the other end of the box, where the Dunlop 65 Polish & Cleaner resides. THAT's what you want to use!

 

[Azastrat03]

i would have thought that if the fretboard was worn ( maple ) that the acidity of the lemon would sort of simulate a more harsh sweat so therefore wear it out faster than normal but someone on here said it is just a scent not real lemon so i have no idea! i always used it on my maple fretboard guitars, cos it smelled awesome! and kept it clean, and wear happens anyways!

 

[bingy]

I use WD40 for both - spray a little amount on a cloth, wipe to clean strings and/or fingerboard, then wipe dry with a clean cloth.

+1

 

[surfoverb]

i clean with naptha my finished maple boards and rosewood, and condish rosewood and baked maple with raw linseed oil ( 2 xs a year at most)

on my 52RI there are worn spots on the board that darken with dirt, naptha cleans that up.