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  #1  
Old 05-20-2023, 09:19 AM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default Is lighter fuel naphtha ?

Can I use lighter fuel to clean glue residue from clear pick guard removal.?

daniel
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Old 05-20-2023, 10:04 AM
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martinlover martinlover is offline
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Yes, lighter fluid is Naptha.
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Old 05-20-2023, 10:25 AM
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And just for clarification to anyone reading, this refers to cigarette lighter fluid. You can also use mineral spirits, but it’s not as refined a product as naptha, and it’s a more aggressive solvent. It also does not evaporate as quickly.

It’s become very difficult to find naptha these days.

And there are some luthiers who recommend old fashioned ‘spit’ for cleaning
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Old 05-20-2023, 12:39 PM
Mandobart Mandobart is offline
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Coleman Fuel aka "white gas" is also (supposedly) naptha. I've never used it for cleaning any instrument.
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Old 05-20-2023, 05:08 PM
Borderdon Borderdon is offline
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I have and do occasionally use “white gas” on my guitars as a “schmutz” remover, no difference to lighter fluid.
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Old 05-20-2023, 05:14 PM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default Success.

I used lighter fluid on the glue residue after removing the clear pickguard and am happy to report that it worked like a charm.

Thanks for helping.

daniel

Last edited by gstring; 05-20-2023 at 05:42 PM.
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Old 05-22-2023, 01:51 AM
nikpearson nikpearson is offline
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Default Lighter fuel is a petroleum distillate.

I use Zippo or Swan fuel on a regular basis as a cleaning fluid. Works really well on adhesive residue but is safe on most finishes.

My hierarchy of solvents looks like this:

1) Water
2) Ethanol or Isopropanol
3) Naptha / lighter fuel
4) White spirit - I think this is mineral spirits in the US
5) Acetone

The last two smell unpleasant and can damage finishes. Acetone is particularly aggressive. White spirit can leave an oily deposit. The others are safe on most finishes, although alcohol will strip shellac.
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Old 05-22-2023, 04:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nikpearson View Post
The others are safe on most finishes, although alcohol will strip shellac.
Good point. And we are seeing more guitars and repairs done these days with French polishing techniques (aka shellac).

So it goes without saying, be careful when using solvents to clean a guitar. Know your chemistry in advance, and if you are at all uncertain, test the solvent in a less obvious area.

One more point, if disaster occurs, don’t fret, because it’s an opportunity to learn how to repair a finish! Always remember, that you’re not the first person to ever goof up.

Rick
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