What does the majority say about lemon oil?

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by drplayer

I use lemon oil sparingly once a year, and have for decades...seems to work just fine.

Agreed! I think a once-a-year application would be just fine.

[Tube Sound]

My acoustics are mostly vintage and bought on the used market. When I set them up after purchase, I used lemon oil on the fretboard and bridge, sparingly, after cleaning with a damp cloth. I've since switched to 3 in 1 after watching the Dave Doll video. I rarely if ever use it again, only that first time. Not afraid to use it, just found it unnecessary.

[dneal]

There's "lemon oil" and there's lemon oil.

One is mineral oil with a lemon scent. Mineral oil is used to protect wood (particularly cutting boards), and often times has beeswax or other components added for finishing furniture. Mineral oil (or "lemon oil") is fine for your fretboard and bridge. Use it sparingly and wipe off the excess.

Real lemon oil (the essential oil from the fruit) is a different story. Don't use it.

[Bridgepin]

I use boiled linseed oil once a year.

[fazool]

This is a hotly debated topic.

The debate never ends.

It is one of the handful of items for which 50% say you "should" and 50% say you "must never". There is no consensus and no convergence.

There are different kinds of oils, as stated.

The fluids from your finger are not oils - they are bodily excretions of mostly sweat chemicals (minerals, urea, lactic acid, ammonia, water, etc.). Fingers don't "oil" wood.

[Dreadfulnaught]

Originally Posted by dneal

There's "lemon oil" and there's lemon oil.

One is mineral oil with a lemon scent. Mineral oil is used to protect wood (particularly cutting boards), and often times has beeswax or other components added for finishing furniture. Mineral oil (or "lemon oil") is fine for your fretboard and bridge. Use it sparingly and wipe off the excess.

Real lemon oil (the essential oil from the fruit) is a different story. Don't use it.

Yup. I use Old English lemon oil, which is mineral oil with a lemon scent. I apply it when changing strings (not every change, just when it seems dry). I let it sit for a few minutes to let the fretboard absorb it, then wipe off the fretboard and restring.

[islandguitar]

I use some of the Petros fretboard oil from Petros guitars. Tiny bottle.....will last me "forever"..........nice stuff.........but used maybe once or twice a year.

[Rev Roy]

I use this lightly once a year...

[bufflehead]

I don't use lemon oil or anything else that is vegetable-based because such oils can become bacterial cultures. (This is not a concern for my health, but for the health of the fretboard wood.) 3-in-1 oil is a solvent as well as a lubricant. You only need a drop or two every five years or so. If it's good enough for Martin....

[JayBee1404]

No more than once a year, two tiny (1/8" diameter) drops on a cloth will do a whole fingerboard, one drop does a bridge. Wipe on, take care not to drive it into the fret-slots, Leave for a few minutes, wipe the excess off, buff with a clean, dry cloth.

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And oiling a FB is nothing more than a cosmetic exercise to make it look nice - oil does not 'feed' or 'hydrate' a fingerboard. The wood is dead, it doesn't need 'food', and if it's dried-out it needs humidity (a.k.a. moisture), not oil.

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by bufflehead

I don't use lemon oil or anything else that is vegetable-based because such oils can become bacterial cultures. ...

Lemon oil is not true "lemon". It is merely lemon scented mineral oil which is much more highly refined than 3-in-1 which is very unrefined petroleum oil.

I don't care if Martin says it's OK, I would never touch wood with 3-in-1. Ever. The reason it's brown is because it is not fully refined so there are staining contaminants throughout (dissolved and suspended).

Martin is about my favorite historical American manufacturing company. I admire them so much.

I'm also not afraid to say they are wrong and fully prepared to dismiss when they give bad information.

Don't just blindly follow advice from a(ny) company just because they have a famous name. Gather data and scrutinize it, then make an informed decision.

[C_Becker]

I use a small amount of Dunlop "lemon"oil every string change, just to clean the board a little. I use Elixirs and don't play that much, so thats maybe twice a year.

[Arch Stanton]

Wow, the last few posts all have some good solid wording. I have always liked using oil on many things. The underside of my cars, skin, scalp, guitars, wood furniture, oil-based paint, leather products, etc. i am going to use it on the fret board, but just need to find the right stuff and use very little. I will even call several fine guitar makers and see what they say. I'd like to try that Terra-nova stuff.

[Beakybird]

I didn't know lemon oil was mineral oil with lemon scent. I got mineral oil, and I'll stick with the twice a year recommended.

[dneal]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

No more than once a year, two tiny (1/8" diameter) drops on a cloth will do a whole fingerboard, one drop does a bridge. Wipe on, take care not to drive it into the fret-slots, Leave for a few minutes, wipe the excess off, buff with a clean, dry cloth.

And oiling a FB is nothing more than a cosmetic exercise to make it look nice - oil does not 'feed' or 'hydrate' a fingerboard. The wood is dead, it doesn't need 'food', and if it's dried-out it needs humidity (a.k.a. moisture), not oil.

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

Unfinished wood is porous and absorbent. Mineral oil will help repel contaminants that would otherwise be absorbed into the fret board. It's the same reason you treat a wooden cutting board with mineral oil.