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What should I clean oxidized Mustang saddles with?

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 10:38 pm
by HedonismBot
Hi all. This may be a dumb question, but are there any good non-invasive ways to clean heavily oxidized (dark brown) string saddles? I don't mind the natural wear but I don't particularly care to cultivate the "worn vintage look" either. Asking since I don’t have much prior experience with vintage guitars. Thanks!

Re: Cleaning oxidized Mustang saddles

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:30 pm
by HedonismBot
Are WB-40 or vinegar okay to use on vintage hardware?

Re: Cleaning oxidized Mustang saddles

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:40 am
by Pacafeliz
HedonismBot wrote:
Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:30 pm
Are WB-40 or vinegar okay to use on vintage hardware?
Yes to WD40, it's perfect. 👍🏻

But dude NEVER vinegar to clean metal!!! :wtf:

Re: What should I clean oxidized Mustang saddles with?

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:42 am
by HedonismBot
Thanks for the tip! WD-40 it is

Re: What should I clean oxidized Mustang saddles with?

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:37 pm
by andy_tchp
You could try Coca Cola if you happen to have some around. The phosphoric acid in it will be effective at dealing with some corrosion.

Or conversely, buy some phosphoric acid, it’s sold as ‘rust converter’ in hardware and automotive shops. I wouldn’t bother with WD-40, it’s just a greasy water dispersant (hence the name) with slight lubricating properties.

Re: Cleaning oxidized Mustang saddles

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:05 pm
by mgeek
Pacafeliz wrote:
Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:40 am


But dude NEVER vinegar to clean metal!!! :wtf:
Why not? I bought an ancient plane and there was plenty of advice to get the rust off with vinegar - which I did and it worked

Re: Cleaning oxidized Mustang saddles

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:39 pm
by Pacafeliz
mgeek wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:05 pm
Pacafeliz wrote:
Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:40 am


But dude NEVER vinegar to clean metal!!! :wtf:
Why not? I bought an ancient plane and there was plenty of advice to get the rust off with vinegar - which I did and it worked
Well I know vinegar (fumes) are used to artificially age metal parts, to cause the worn look/rust.

BTW what kinda plane?

Re: What should I clean oxidized Mustang saddles with?

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:41 pm
by Pacafeliz
I have a little salsa glass jar, half filled with WD40 only for de-rusting metal parts. Works like a dream to help loosing rusted saddle screws and such.

Re: Cleaning oxidized Mustang saddles

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 9:13 am
by mgeek
Pacafeliz wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:39 pm
mgeek wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:05 pm
Pacafeliz wrote:
Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:40 am


But dude NEVER vinegar to clean metal!!! :wtf:
Why not? I bought an ancient plane and there was plenty of advice to get the rust off with vinegar - which I did and it worked
Well I know vinegar (fumes) are used to artificially age metal parts, to cause the worn look/rust.

BTW what kinda plane?
Interesting - I did notice that once the rust was gone it sort of clouded up a bit, which I guess is what you'd want for fake ageing something...It did the trick with the rust though.

The plane is a massive old Record No7, which I got for joining body blanks. It cleaned up nicely, think I managed to date it to the 1930s! Great looking object

Re: What should I clean oxidized Mustang saddles with?

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 1:30 pm
by Nord
I use a product called Evapo-Rust. It's non-toxic and biodegradable and I've used it to successfully remove or reduce rust and oxidation from old Fender parts.

Re: What should I clean oxidized Mustang saddles with?

Posted: Thu May 20, 2021 11:45 am
by kaptainkaffeine
This is useful info. My 20 year old MIM strat's bridge looks super rusty and the saddle screws are barely usable. Gonna try this and see how it goes.