Gummy Neck

[Doug Ezell]

Someone (not me!) with sweaty palms played my varnish F5 and now the neck feels gummy/grainy. I've rubbed it w/ a flannel cloth and got most off but there is still a significant gumminess/graininess to the neck.

Any advice on how to get this off?

I'll never loan it out again!!

Thanks for any and all help provided.

[Gail Hester]

Try a softer cloth (t-shirt material) and a little water. If that doesn’t work try the best thing I’ve found…I hesitate to say this in public…a little spit.

[mad dawg]

Sounds like he/she had more than sweat on their palms. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[John Bertotti]

Bug repellent. Bad stuff for a finish. John

[addcourt]

Doug: I've been watching with interest since I've just received a used Master Model with the same neck condition you're experiencing. Before I send it to a luthier, I thought I'd see if you've had any luck correcting the problem. Thanks, Mike

[GTison]

I'd bet when you rub varnish with water the softened varnish will roll off as well. I'm not a luthier

[Jim Rowland]

This is similar to a thread on which I participated a few years ago on another site. Several years ago,I built an F-5 style for a fellow and finished it with lacquer. It got two weeks hang time before final sand and rub out and was finished for a month before delivery. The neck finish was hard and shiny like a lot of players don't like them,but I had no reservations about the soundness of it. I saw the mandolin a year or so later and the lacquer in the first position was gone and the wood was deteriorating. I looked at his guitar and the same thing was happening there. I concluded that some people have an element in their perspiration that will kill finish. Many respondents on the old thread agreed. This fellow had big hands and a grip like a gorilla,but so have lots of guys who don't produce the same phenomena.

Jim

[Michael Lewis]

To begin with I am not familiar with the exact varnish used on your instrument, so maybe you should contact the maker. In my experience with the varnish I use, and lacquer for that matter, if the finish gets gummy it needs to be removed down to the wood. Once the area is clean it can be re coated with whatever finish you choose. For the shaft of the neck I would recommend a fresh mix of shellac, and French polish it on there. Keep all lotions and bug spray away from your instruments.

[Philip Halcomb]

Another thing I found helpful in these kinds of situtations, for instance when I play it extremely humid conditions where the air is not exactly of the best quality I experience similiar things and it seems my strings go bad faster. Frank Wakefield taught me a trick to that, to wash your hands with rubbing alcohol before playing. It will remove any grime, grease, dirt, oil, or impurities from your hands. Wipe them dry with a towel and enjoy...