Author Topic: Lemon Oil (Read 296 times)

rogertvr · « **on:** August 29, 2004, 08:15:36 AM »

I lemon oiled the fretboard on the Dragon's Wing today. I used Culpeper Lemon Oil (pure essential oil). I used it on my old fretless too - the results were amazing, watching it soak into the ebony fretboards on both basses. The texture and colour of the wood after I buffed it up was really rich - very impressive stuff indeed!

It's about ?5 for a 14ml bottle here in the UK. Culpeper are a British company based in London. If anyone is interested, their website can be found at http://www.culpeper.co.uk/

Cheers,

Rog

bob · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2004, 08:35:45 AM »

Here's a source from the other side of the pond.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2004, 08:08:42 AM »

I Sit Corrected!

A while back I jokingly spouted to members that were stating they were paying $5 an ounce and up for lemon oil, and some could not find any at all, that they simply should have asked their wives to get them some. This was prompted by my buying an 8 oz. bottle of Pure Lemon Oil at my local store for $5, just as any American housewife would do - no offense intended. A couple of responses were a bit barbed, but no matter. Mica brought up the point that even though it said pure lemon oil on the label, it was probably wax based => as in Lemon Pledge type of wax based. Hmmmm . . .

I went to the site Bob listed above and bought a bottle. This substance is markedly different from the $5 locally bought bottle. Much thinner. Like fine sewing machine oil compared to thicker all purpose oil. My ebony finger boards soak this up much faster than the $5 bottle, which I realize Mica was right about - I have been committing the sin or polishing the polish!

I will be nice to myself in the end in this matter, as really I was actually right. This was indeed a matter best handled by the house wives (and house husbands), as the lemon oil received is obviously for cooking and baking goods, not for shop use. My mistake was in the fact that these people needed to be gourmet cooks, which all American house spouses are, right? God bless Chef Boyardee! The bottle states it makes great whipped cream and frostings, and there is even a recipe for lemon cookies. Plus, two points I did not consider previously - it says to refrigerate after opening and has a 'sell by date' on it, which means after a year or two this stuff goes bad. Hmmmm . . . An obvious reason not to stock up on too much of this stuff. Note: 5 oz. bottle was only $12, plus cheap shipping - UPS. AND, they gave me a free 1.6 oz. bottle of olive oil vinegaret - Yow!

With the wax-based pure lemon oil 'stuff,' I never had a problem with my dog licking my finger boards. However, Daisy evidently really likes the lemon smell and flavoring. I wonder what effect dog slobber has on strings? Well, I suppose I could bake her up some cookies, now that I have the recipe. BTW - Thanks Bob!

Daisy, the Alembic liking pup. Who could scold that face, even if she slobbered all over your Alembics.

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2004, 12:24:54 PM »

Hi Daisy!!!!

bassman10096 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 03, 2004, 01:03:49 PM »

I also stand (sit) corrected. I have not opened this thread until today because I assumed it was likely to contain the kind of an over the top, anal retentive fretting over an inconsequential product difference that we Alembicians sometimes fall into (too much free time?).

I was wrong (not a first-time thing, either). I have already admitted the error of my smug ways, swallowed my pride and ordered my very own bottle.

Cute doggy! Unfortunately, I have one that looks as angelic and sweet as Daisy while he is rummaging through the kitchen garbage for the fourth time today...

Have a great Labor Day weekend all!
Bill

gare · « **Reply #5 on:** September 03, 2004, 02:20:27 PM »

Oh geez..I actually have some experience with the dog slobber thing,mine does that too. It's not a comfortable feeling on the hands. And can be a pain to clean if left to long. I keep those alcohol wipes used for cleaning eye glasses on standby for those occasions,they also work well for removing finger oil etc from strings. And they're disposable.
Now if I can just get the cat stop licking my glasses when I sleep.
Hi Daisy...
G

bob · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2004, 09:44:15 PM »

... anal retentive fretting? Hey, I'm a fretless guy, maybe that's why I care so much about my fingerboard :-)

Next time, just ask Daisy.

rogertvr · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2004, 02:22:00 AM »

Another advantage of lemon oiling fretboards is that it's completely put these two off being interested in my basses...now, if I could just find something to have a similar effect with my keyboards.....

poor_nigel · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2004, 08:28:00 AM »

When I look at the picture above, it makes me start singing, We are Siamese, if you please. We are Siamese, if you don't please. Now I have to go dig out my Lady and the Tramp laser and watch it, so I can remember the rest of the words. BTW, Diasy wants your kitties to come over and play. Woof!

(Message edited by poor_nigel on September 04, 2004)