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Author
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Topic: Lighter Fluid
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Michael Haselman
Member From: St. Paul Park, Minnesota, USA
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posted 12 February 2005 07:42 PM
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I've seen a couple threads about this before, and I'm thinking of taking the plunge and dousing my changers with lighter fluid to clean them out. I'd appreciate any advice on doing this. They're getting pretty funked up and short of taking it apart this seems like the easieast method of cleaning. ------------------
Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 12 February 2005 08:19 PM
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That reminds me of the time they filled the trough between the necks on Rusty Youngs steel with lighter fluid for an effect show, but the roadie accidently spilled it on more than the troght, the whole guitar caught on fire, everybody freaked out and somebody tried to put it out with a mic stand. The lesson here is, use lighter fluid on psgs only sparingly, keeping it away from matches and roadies.  [This message was edited by Webb Kline on 12 February 2005 at 10:11 PM.] |
Bill Hatcher
Member From: Atlanta Ga. USA
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posted 12 February 2005 09:42 PM
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Lighter fluid is just naptha. Cheaper than lighter fluid. I have heard of guys just getting a good grade of contact cleaner with lube in it and spraying the changer. What ever works for you. |
Michael Haselman
Member From: St. Paul Park, Minnesota, USA
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posted 12 February 2005 09:43 PM
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Hey, I never thought of that. I'll wait till I'm on stage and do pyrotechnics and clean my steel at the same time! But, I was thinking of soaking it through to get rid of the old oil then re-oiling it. Somebody will link me to that old thread.[This message was edited by Michael Haselman on 12 February 2005 at 09:52 PM.] |
Bobby Boggs
Member From: Pendleton SC
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posted 13 February 2005 12:07 AM
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I've only had to do this once on a guitar I traded for.But I carried the guitar outdoors.Turned it upside down,blocked it up.Placed fabric on the blocks so to not scratch the finish.I blocked it up to keep the Naptha off the finish.Not sure what Naptha will do to mica if anything. But I didn't want to take a chance and ruin the finish.Then I had to clean the really ugly spot on the driveway.Also after your thru cleaning the changer.I worked the pedals and knees back and forth while pouring the Naptha to it.I let it sit a while. The changer was as stiff as a board.Anyway while you still have it blocked up. It's a great time to oil it.And let the excess oil stain the drive.  I'm sure theres a better way.That's just my way.....................bb [This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 13 February 2005 at 07:54 PM.] |
Howard Tate
Member From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA
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posted 13 February 2005 12:55 AM
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I talked to Bruce Zumsteg yesterday. He said to blow the changer out with air, turn it upside down on an old rug or something like that, and pour oil or transmission fluid on the changer until it runs through. Then leave it sit that way overnight. He said the oil will ruin the strings, that surprised me a little.------------------
Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3
http://www.Charmedmusic.com
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Bill Miller
Member From: Gaspé, Québec, Canada
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posted 13 February 2005 09:21 AM
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I'm not sure I agree that lighter fluid is naptha...not the brands I've ever bought anyways. I still use lighter fluid now and then to get my wood stove started. I saw a hunting buddy try that with naptha one time and it blew the shutters off the stove and he lost most of the hair off one arm as well as singeing his eyebrows. I wouldn't use naptha as a solvent...one little spark and you'd have a lively situation. |
Bill Hatcher
Member From: Atlanta Ga. USA
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posted 13 February 2005 10:09 AM
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Mr. Miller. I would suggest that you do a Google search on "Zippo Lighter Fluid" to determine whether or not Naptha is interchangable with lighter fluid. Under safe conditions, naptha is a very fine solvent especially for musical instruments in that it will not harm a lacquer finish or mica. Naptha is used as a cutting agent when wet sanding lacquer to keep the sandpaper from loading up. It is also now being used in some spray electronic solvents with the advent of doing away with the hydrocarbons that harm the ozone layer supposedly. Also it is MUCH safer than acetone or gasoline in that it ignites in a much less volitile manner. The problem your buddy had with the stove is that he squirted an enclosed chamber with bunch of it and the vapor had no where to go so in a concentrated area he in essence created an atomized bomb. I would also encourage you to also do a google search on "lighter fluid/woodstove" and you might change your mind on using that stuff to fire up the stove. Naptha needs to be respected as a potential health hazard simply by not using it in enclosed environments, wearing rubber gloves and not breathing in concentrated vapors. I keep a can on the shelf beside my work bench when I am doing instrument repair and use it all the time. |
Bill Miller
Member From: Gaspé, Québec, Canada
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posted 13 February 2005 11:09 AM
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Didn't mean to sound like a 'know it all' Bill. The story just sprang to mind when I saw the reference to naphta. For all I know what we call naphta locally might even be something else. What I was referring to was the camp fuel that goes in 'Coleman' type stoves and lanterns. Whatever it is it's definitely a lot more volatile than any lighter fluid I've ever used. |
Bill Hatcher
Member From: Atlanta Ga. USA
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posted 13 February 2005 12:06 PM
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Bill. Nothing taken from it, just spreading info.Coleman fuel does indeed contain naptha and some other stuff like tolulene, rust inhibitors and such. Safe to say that lighter fluid, coleman fuel, naptha whatever can be seriously dangerous used incorrectly. |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 13 February 2005 01:50 PM
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I've removed the changer and put it in the dishwasher. Cleaned it right up. |
tbhenry
Member From: Chattanooga /USA
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posted 13 February 2005 03:08 PM
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Michael,Lighter fluid - this soubnds like drastic treatment. Why not dismantle the changer and clean it piece by piece. You would learn so much about your guitar and if you can't get it back to work right you can always send it to Tom Bradshaw like I had to do. throw lighter fluid over a steel guitar like a truck engine.. I think not!!!!!! |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 13 February 2005 05:12 PM
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Electronics cleaner can be obtained at any Auto Parts Store and desolves all grease deposits. Run the whole can though with the guitar on newspapers. Re-lube with Marvel Machine Tool Oil. It NEVER congeals and actually disolves old grease. Believe me this works. |
Bill Ford
Member From: Graniteville SC Aiken
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posted 13 February 2005 07:15 PM
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Ditto, the Marvel machine oil,thats what I use, a friend of mine is diabetic, and gave me a couple syringes,works real good in tight places.I stopped by the piano/keyboard dealer the other day and picked up a container of "Hammond" generator oil(for the revolving speaker cabnet)at Church. Has anyone tried that? Just wondering. Bill |
Dave Grafe
Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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posted 14 February 2005 11:14 AM
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quote:
What I was referring to was the camp fuel that goes in 'Coleman' type stoves and lanterns. Whatever it is it's definitely a lot more volatile than any lighter fluid I've ever used
Bill H., that stuff (Coleman Fuel) is not Naptha at all, but "White Gasoline" - it's like the stuff we put in our cars only without the leading agents (nowadays they mostly use Mercury) that slow down the combustion rate so it can be used in engines and such. Rather than a "flammable" agent as naptha and auto gas are, white gas is considered to be an "explosive" due to the much faster burn rate, and not recommended for use with anything except your Coleman lamps or stoves. Of course, if Coleman is going to put a PSG on the market....As previously reported, "Naptha" is the stuff you (should) put in your Zippo lighter. What about mechanic's penetrating oil? |
Farris Currie
Member From: Ona, Florida, USA
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posted 14 February 2005 11:22 AM
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got old bud turned over on blocks soaking it down good,wondering at what stage do you strike the match!!!!give her a good cleaning. hahahhahhhaha farris |
Ray Minich
Member From: Limestone, New York, USA
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posted 14 February 2005 01:50 PM
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Be careful with contact cleaner spray around nylon and some other plastics. We attempted to spray a keyboard on a CNC milling machine to clean out the oilfilm, and some of the nylon keyposts shattered. Just a thought. |
Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
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posted 14 February 2005 02:36 PM
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So some of you are cleaning the changes without disassembling them? I may try it with the electronics contact cleaner. I can't imagine having to take apart the Kline changer and put the rods back on. DZ |
Terry Edwards
Member From: Layton, UT
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posted 14 February 2005 02:42 PM
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Come to think of it, Jimi Hendrix once used lighter fluid on his guitar to enhance his performance...
Terry |
John McConnell
Member From: Yuba City, CA, USA
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posted 20 February 2005 03:04 PM
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I use a lubricant called Boeshield T-9. It was recommended to me by Jeff Newman at a seminar I attended in AZ just before his accident. It was developed by Boeing for use on aircraft engines. It contains sovents and lubricants. It dries and leaves a thin wax coating that lasts for months. It displaces old oils and water and is safe on vinyls, plastics and paint. It is really great stuff. I had to search it out on the internet and order it from the manufacture's web site. Great stuff. You can see the old oils working out of your changer after you apply it. I highkly recommend it.John McConnell
Yuba City, CA
ShoBud Professional D-10, Fessenden S13 |
Larry Strawn
Member From: Golden Valley, Arizona, USA
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posted 20 February 2005 07:10 PM
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Well,, My input!! being a heavey equipment mech. by trade, I believe, and live by penetrating oil..I take off strings, soak the changer with a good penetrating oil for a few hrs, then blow it out with an air hose. Re-oil with machine oil, use canned air to blow it around the changer good. Works for me.. I think this has already been said, just in a different way. [of course wife makes me take it outside! lol..]
Larry S.
Emmons S/D-10, 3/4, Sessions 400, Home Grown E/F Rack[This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 20 February 2005 at 07:13 PM.] |
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