Page 1 of 2

Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 9:13 pm
by RoséBear
I’ve been doing this for some months, but I’m starting to wonder if this is a bad idea. I use Burts Bees, put some on a toothpick and rub it in the slot.

I think it works well enough, but I notice after a show or something with heavy trem use, some of the chapstick in the saddles has turned dark/black. I suppose I’m worried that it’s heating up with use of the trem and for lack of better terms, “burning” the chapstick, possibly damaging the saddles. Does anyone else use chapstick?

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:19 pm
by Horsefeather
I'd say you're definitely not burning anything or generating temperatures anywhere near that. My thought is that the color change is due to string oxidation getting picked up by the sticky material and/or general dirtiness of your hands being transferred to it. Not that I'm saying your hands are particularly dirty. They're just good at moving microscopic stuff from one thing to another.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 1:02 am
by andy_tchp
Not 'burning' anything, but completely pointless.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 2:05 am
by Steadyriot.
It's not burning, just grime from your hands, strings and hardware.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 2:45 am
by thenewromance
Graphite seems to be a suitable lubricating agent for metal on metal contacts. You could use a pencil, or graphite powder from a hardware store.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 3:50 am
by ChrisDesign
Buy some Spray White Lithium. Is perfect For metal on metal connections and doesn’t degrade. Heat proof and water proof.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 5:55 am
by jvin248
.

Greases collect dirt and grime which actually increase your friction. What do you put down on slippery ice? Sand. To give you grip.
(The black debris is not heat, it's debris rubbed off your strings/saddles plus any other junk falling in there).

Better option is hardware store dry graphite lock lube the nut slots, saddles, and other contact points. You can use HB/#2 pencil lead too.

If you get the lock lube, be careful to cut the applicator tip from the end very small or the graphite will gush out of it.

Also, when done fixing the guitar, go around your house/apartment and put graphite in all the exterior door locks (I'll put some on the key too and work that around in there). You will be amazed how pleasant it is coming home to a nice working lock.

.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:39 am
by adamrobertt
lol the Chapstick is just getting dirty. It also realllly isn't necessary to do this. The Mastery was designed with vibrato use in mind and the chrome plating on the saddles is self-lubricating. Personally I'd never gunk up my saddles like that.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:54 am
by RoséBear
andy_tchp wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 1:02 am
Not 'burning' anything, but completely pointless.
adamrobertt wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:39 am
lol the Chapstick is just getting dirty. It also realllly isn't necessary to do this. The Mastery was designed with vibrato use in mind and the chrome plating on the saddles is self-lubricating. Personally I'd never gunk up my saddles like that.

I’m just a little paranoid about wrecking the saddles. I had a little bit of creaking in a previous mastery saddle. Used 200 grit abrasive cord, and it burned right through the hard chrome plating. So I’m afraid if I leave the saddles bare, the strings will carve into them the same

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:14 am
by Embenny
So you sanded off the chrome plating of a Mastery and are then putting wax on there? That's really unfortunate. That's doubling down on making sure you're increasing friction so that it doesn't work as intended.

As was mentioned, graphite is the ideal lubricant for guitar parts in terms of function and safety. Stick with that.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:28 am
by RoséBear
mbene085 wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:14 am
So you sanded off the chrome plating of a Mastery and are then putting wax on there? That's really unfortunate. That's doubling down on making sure you're increasing friction so that it doesn't work as intended.

As was mentioned, graphite is the ideal lubricant for guitar parts in terms of function and safety. Stick with that.
No, I tried to get rid of a burr on the saddle, very lightly used the Mitchell’s abrasive cord, and the brass shined through the chrome. So I bought a new saddle.

This saddle I only put chapstick in. Will the graphite from a mechanical pencil do the job? What is the specific graphite you guys use from the store so I can pick it up

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:40 am
by Embenny
Oh, it's a new saddle? I wouldn't lubricate it. I never have on my Mastery bridges.

You don't want to just draw on the saddle with a pencil. Graphite lubricants are suspensions of powdered graphite. Some people advocate making their own by powdering graphite using a mechanical pencil and sandpaper, then mixing it with vaseline. But places like Stewmac sell graphite lubricant, and one container lasts forever, so I'd just stick with that.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 12:14 pm
by RoséBear
mbene085 wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:40 am
Oh, it's a new saddle? I wouldn't lubricate it. I never have on my Mastery bridges.

You don't want to just draw on the saddle with a pencil. Graphite lubricants are suspensions of powdered graphite. Some people advocate making their own by powdering graphite using a mechanical pencil and sandpaper, then mixing it with vaseline. But places like Stewmac sell graphite lubricant, and one container lasts forever, so I'd just stick with that.
The reason I lubricated in the first place was because the strings were squeaking on the saddles. Most notably the high e and b, and low E and A.

It’s definitely not the nut or string tree, nor is it the setup. The bridge sits close to the body as it should.

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:58 pm
by Horsefeather
Or switch to a roller bridge and be forever done with worrying about kludges..

Re: Using Chapstick to Lubricate (Mastery) Saddles?

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:11 am
by ChrisDesign
Nut sauce anyone?
BIG BENDS NUT SAUCE APPLICATOR 0.5ML Guitars accessories Polish & care https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000SHQ1QC/ ... rEbDMZDJZZ