Naphtha on Taylor Satin Finish?

[PeteyPower16]

Today while oiling the fretboard and bridge of my guitar, I accidentally got some Taylor fretboard oil on the satin finish of the mahogany top.

Nothing I try, including soap and water and approved Taylor cleaning products can lift the grease marks. Help!

I read elsewhere that naphtha can possibly lift grease from a satin finish. Is this true? Or am I going to make my problem waaaaay worse? This is a SATIN finish from Taylor.

I also note that naphtha dissolves glue, so I would need to be careful to keep it from the bridge.

Thanks!

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by PeteyPower16

Today while boiling the fretboard and bridge of my guitar, I accidentally got some Taylor fretboard oil on the satin finish of the mahogany top.

I really hope you were just oiling the fretboard and bridge ... and not boiling them!

[PeteyPower16]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I really hope you were just oiling the fretboard and bridge ... and not boiling them!

Good catch...corrected!

[TwangGang]

Don't know what chemicals are in the fretboard oil you used. But if you were working on your Taylor guitar and have used Taylor fretboard oil and Taylor cleaner/polish I would consult with Taylor as to the next step. They have pretty responsive customer service so I'd go to their website explain the issue and maybe provide some pictures and see what they recommend.

Naphtha is pretty powerful stuff and I wouldn't use it without asking them first what effect it might have on the satin finish.

[phcorrigan]

Naphtha should not harm your finish, and should remove mineral oil, the main ingredient in most fretboard oils.

As someone else suggested, check with Taylor to make sure naphtha won't harm the finish.

[Wade Hampton]

Taylor uses a polyester finish that’s close to chemically inert. Naphtha can be used on volatile finishes like nitrocellulose lacquer with no problems. By all means check with Taylor, but I don’t think you’ll have a problem with it.


Wade Hampton Miller

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Taylor uses a polyester finish that’s close to chemically inert. Naphtha can be used on volatile finishes like nitrocellulose lacquer with no problems. By all means check with Taylor, but I don’t think you’ll have a problem with it.


Wade Hampton Miller

Wade,
Is there any finish you would NOT use naptha on? Shellac?

[Mark Stone]

My 110e is satin, and I have used naptha on it for some time with no issues, including cleaning the glue gunk off when I removed a pickguard, etc. The finish on the guitar is still purrrrfect, I've had the guitar for four years.

Nevertheless, I agree with other comments that it is a good idea to call the Taylor 800 number and speak with them first.

[Quickstep192]

I took a finishing class once where the instructor said "naphtha will not dissolve any fully cured finish". I have found this to be accurate and often use naphtha as a lubricant while wet sanding with no ill effect. The keywords though are "fully cured"

[Brent Hahn]

I doubt that Taylor would recommend naphtha since you can't even buy it legally here. At least not under that name. But most Zippo-type lighter fluid is straight naphtha.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

I doubt that Taylor would recommend naphtha since you can't even buy it legally here. At least not under that name. But most Zippo-type lighter fluid is straight naphtha.

Really?

Tell Lowes, Home Depot, and any hardware or paint store that:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jasco-32-fl...tha/1000147043

Edit: Sorry, I assumed you are in the U.S., where naphtha is commonly available.

[guitar george]

I wouldn't hesitate to try this type of lighter fluid to remove the fretboard oil. Some years ago the bottles said "naphtha", now they say "contains light petroleum distillate". Seems to be pretty much the same product as far as looks, smell and effectiveness. I have used it for years on many types of materials including clothing to remove grease, oil, sticky subtances, glue from scraped off bottle labels etc. Like you stated, naphtha dissolves certain types of glue so keep it away from any glue.

.

[Wade Hampton]

Naphtha and Ronsonol lighter fluid would be equally effective in this application.


whm

[jpmist]

FWIW Matthew Larrivee recommends lighter fluid like Ronsonol with a microfiber cloth, but if memory serve he's also good with naptha for satin finishes.