Stupid question of the day

[damandaplaya]

I have a mandolin by a well know USA maker with a nitrocellulose (sp?) finish. I have abused the mandolin with love and sweat. The sweat has started to corrode my tail piece and strap button. Both are replaceable, this I know. However, I tried to clean them with a little WD40. NOW, some of that WD40 got on my finish, and actually really cleaned it up. How harmful is WD40 to the finish of a mandolin? It really cleaned it up nice, but at the same time I have heard horror stories of bug spray, etc. getting on finish. Am I going to find my finish in bubbles next time I open my case?

[sachmo]

WD40 is bad, but so is Coke. I assume you already cleaned it with generic 409 or similar, but if your still concerned I would bring it somewhere to have them look at it. I would just chalk it up to the life of a well played instrument, look at monroe's loar. I have friends that the site of a simple blemish makes them sick, thank God i'm not that way, they'd have to commit me I was was.

Good luck.

[fatt-dad]

I'd also consider using some lighter fluid to remove any residuum from the WD-40.

f-d

[mikeyes]

Residuum? Wow, there are only two other words in English (that are not botanical terms) ending in -uum. Way to go!

[Yuletide]

Residuum? #Wow, there are only two other words in English (that are not botanical terms) ending in -uum. Way to go!
I can think of 3 others (continuum, vacuum, and menstruum)and I'll bet there are more, too. ;-)

I use violin polish to clean my mandos and guitars, but I suppose any of the zillions of products you can buy at the grocery or hardware store intended for cleaning fine furniture would work as well. WD40 wouldn't be my first choice.

[JoeD]

Second stupid question of the day:


I'd also consider using some lighter fluid to remove any residuum from the WD-40.

That's a joke, right?

[mikeyes]

Menstruum! Very good. You can use it to get rid of the residuum since it means "solvent." http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Can you think of any more words?

[dmamlep]

I was hopeing that not cleaning my mandolin would give it more low'es, is that a possibility.

[jazzylynne]

Nope he is not kidding. Lighter fluid (naphtha) works great, I've only used it on banjos since I haven't had a mandolin long enough to get it dirty.
Please just don't smoke while using it.

[scgc.om]

If you're not part of the Solution, you're part of the Precipitate . . . .

[fredfrank]

Second stupid question of the day:


I'd also consider using some lighter fluid to remove any residuum from the WD-40.

That's a joke, right?
Hey, only one stupid question of the day each day!