How to Remove Oil Stains When Refinishing a Guitar
Refinishing a guitar can help raise its value and transform an old, dingy guitar into a conversation piece. One key step when refinishing guitars is to remove any visible stains. This is especially important for stains that have soaked into the wood, such as oil stains. Oil stains will make the wood appear darker and can actually make it feel oily and slick. Sometimes, the refinishing process will remove oil stains, but if they have been on the guitar for a long time, you will have to attempt a stain removal process to get rid of the mark. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Mix ½ gallon of hot water with 1 tbsp. gum turpentine and 2 tbsp. linseed oil. Use the hottest water that your hands can handle, as the hotter the water is the better it will remove the oil stain. The linseed oil will help recondition the wood so that the cleaning process does not dry it out.
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Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands from the solution's heat.
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Dip a cloth into the solution and wring it out.
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Rub the cloth over the entire surface of the wood. This will remove surface dust and debris.
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Redip the cloth in the solution and wring it out.
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Rub the cloth over the oil stain until you remove it or lighten it as much as possible.
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Dab mineral spirits on the oil stain if it is still visible. Mineral spirits will remove the oil stain, but they may also remove the polish or wax on your guitar.
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Rinse the area with a water-dampened cloth.
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Let the guitar dry completely.
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References
- Photo Credit S Dunn/Digital Vision/Getty Images
