Isopropyl Alcohol for cleaning guitars fingerboard?

[Hiwatt]

Hi folks.
I "heard" that it is safe to use isopropyl 70% Alcohol swabs to clean the dirt from a maple and Rosewood board before conditioning it.
I'm just wondering if this is safe and if anyone here does it or has tried it?

[chuckocaster]

I use Naptha, also known as Ronsonol or Zippo lighter fluid myself. Safe to use on all fingerboards, AND Nitro finishes. What I do is buy the "big" bottle of Ronsol, then when it runs out I go to the hardware,store and buy Naptha. It's WAY cheaper to buy it from the hardware store. But! Ronsol comes in a handy dispenser, so I refill that when it gets low.

With that said, I'd imagine the isopropyl is safe too. On a side note, I also buy my lemon oil at the aforementioned hardware store. And as an FYI, Jasco brand lemon oil does a pretty good Job of cleaning boards also!

[Don]

I use a wood cleaner. I can't remember the brand. I can look when I'm at home.

Be careful to not over do it with whatever you use. You wouldn't want it to loosen bindings or inlays.

[Don]

Formby's Build Up Remover. That's what I use.

[chuckocaster]

Yep, sage advice from Mr DON! Judiciousness is key!

[FrankJohnson]

What is this "clean" you speak of?

[refin]

What is this "clean" you speak of?

[rudutch]

alcohol does not like nitro finishes, or was it the other way around..
either way, don't use it on nitro finish

[gibsonjunkie]

I have heard more than once that alcohol causes the wood to dry. Not sure I'd take the chance when a bottle of Guitar honey is available - conditions the wood, too.

[Hiwatt]

I'm thinking about this with regards to my maple neck on my Strat Plus.
I've got very acidic sweat and after just a few gigs there's quite a build up of "dirt" on the fretboard(I always have clean hands too by the way)
I used to just use a damp rag but read that this was good way top clean maple fingerboards.
I don't fancy using lighter fluid personally.So is there anyone here who has tried the alcohol swabs?Thanks folks.

[chuckocaster]

You could dilute Simple Green or Dawn in water and then scrub the board with a toothbrush.

I guess I don't understand peoples' hesitation about using lighter fluid. It's actually pretty darn safe. It "flashes off" extremely fast, so once that happens it isn't flammable. Heck, I smoke while using it...

[Don]

You could dilute Simple Green or Dawn in water and then scrub the board with a toothbrush.

I guess I don't understand peoples' hesitation about using lighter fluid. It's actually pretty darn safe. It "flashes off" extremely fast, so once that happens it isn't flammable. Heck, I smoke while using it...

I used to burn model cars with it. It ignites easily but burns relatively cool and flashes off quickly.

It's really no different than any other solvent.

[Cogs]

Famous people use lighter fluid (naptha), like Dan Erlewine. Why then would you have any hesitation?
Rubbing alcohol on the other hand, is not recommended. It will ruin your finish.
But by all means, give it a try. And post your results here, please.

[Hiwatt]

Famous people use lighter fluid (naptha), like Dan Erlewine. Why then would you have any hesitation?
Rubbing alcohol on the other hand, is not recommended. It will ruin your finish.
But by all means, give it a try. And post your results here, please.

I guess it's just cause I've never used it and was put off by the fact that it's "lighter fuel"
I've read so much about what to use and not to use on maple fingerboards.Also I found this video about Alcohol swabs Vs Napatha!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSOdKrYQWec

[Gravity Jim]

Like everything on YouTube, that video is one man's misinformed opinion. "Clog the pores?" Seriously? What is supposed to flow through those pores that you could clog with oil? Angel's breath? :)

Naptha doesn't hurt wood. It absolutely doesn't. It has been used by woodworkers forever for cleaning bare wood without raising the grain. I have personally used it to clean bare wood and antique furniture and it is not harmful. There was naptha long before there was lighter fluid, so saying "Naptha... which is lighter fluid..." is a backwards (and pejorative) statement. What he means to say is, "Lighter fluid is naphtha."

If neccessary, I carefully scrape rosewood and ebony boards with half an old credit card to remove gross debris... wipe down with naphtha to clean off the fine stuff... and condition with Fret Doctor conditioner.

[Cogs]

I've never heard of Sammy Bones before, but Dan Erlewine has been working on guitars since the early 1960s. If he says naptha is ok, you can believe it.

[FrankJohnson]

If Dan Erlewine wanted to sit and draw Dirty Pictures - I would sit there and sharpen Pencils for him! Dan is Wise!

[Cogs]

lol

[chuckocaster]

Dan really is "The Man"! I read ALL his articles, even if it's about stuff I'll never do.

[Hiwatt]

Cool!If you guys have used it and say it's fine then that's good enough for me.Thanks folks.

[Cogs]

Throw caution to the wind & use a soft bristle toothbrush, too!

[chuckocaster]

I do, if there's "grime" on the board. Which sounds like what the OP mentioned.

[JM3]

alcohol will dry the wood, you want a lubricated cleanser not drying for wood, heck even mineral oil would be better

dont get me wrong i use 70% for metal parts

[photoweborama]

I use Martin guitar polish to clean fret boards. It does an excellent job of removing goop. I use it all the time.. It's not too great as a guitar polish though....

Then I finish with lemon oil on rosewood.

For a regular polish, I use Gibson pump polish... I go through 1-2 bottles a month....