Members gardo Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 I picked up a used violin for my daughter, it's an intermediate grade insrument.. I want to give it a cleaning and fresh strings. It has some rosin build up and as a guitar player I'm not sure of the best way to clean it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 I picked up a used violin for my daughter' date=' it's an intermediate grade insrument.. I want to give it a cleaning and fresh strings. It has some rosin build up and as a guitar player I'm not sure of the best way to clean it..[/quote'] I would start with just a damp rag. Since most violins are shellac finish I would avoid any solvents with the possible exception of naptha (lighter fluid) - it is usually considered safe for most finishes but test on a small area first. I would also avoid any kind of furniture cleaner, lemon oil or anything with waxes or silicon. The fretboard, if ebony, can be cleaned with very light steel wool (0000) or a damp rag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jamesp Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 If you can find it, Nikko is fantastic for varnished instruments. Or any finish really. For really stubborn rosin deposits I know people sometimes add a tiny, tiny amount of toluene, but I wouldn't recommend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted November 18, 2014 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 I would start with just a damp rag. Since most violins are shellac finish I would avoid any solvents with the possible exception of naptha (lighter fluid) - it is usually considered safe for most finishes but test on a small area first. I would also avoid any kind of furniture cleaner, lemon oil or anything with waxes or silicon. The fretboard, if ebony, can be cleaned with very light steel wool (0000) or a damp rag. Thanks Freeman, you probably saved me from a big mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted November 18, 2014 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 If you can find it, Nikko is fantastic for varnished instruments. Or any finish really. For really stubborn rosin deposits I know people sometimes add a tiny, tiny amount of toluene, but I wouldn't recommend it. Find it ? I don't even know what it is. I tried to google it but only found Nikko Dry Cleaning Service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jamesp Posted November 18, 2014 Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 Sorry! I guess it's spelled Nikco.http://www.johnsonstring.com/cgi-bin/accessorysearch/accessorysearch.cgi?select1=PO&file=polish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted November 18, 2014 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 Sorry! I guess it's spelled Nikco. http://www.johnsonstring.com/cgi-bin/accessorysearch/accessorysearch.cgi?select1=PO&file=polish Thanks . I'll try a damp rag first and keep this in mind if I need somethng more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted November 18, 2014 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2014 Thanks Freeman and jamesp.The violin turned out really nice. My daughter is in the next room playing it right now. She's happy ,I'm happy and I know my wife will be pleased when she gets home in a few minutes. The damp rag was not working on the rosin build up and I was afraid it had ruined the finish. I tested the naptha on a hidden spot and it looked safe so I used it on the rosin and it did a fantastic job . The finish looks great. Greatly appreciate the advise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jamesp Posted November 19, 2014 Members Share Posted November 19, 2014 YW. Thanks for making violin a part of your daughter's life, gardo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Idunno Posted November 20, 2014 Members Share Posted November 20, 2014 http://www.samash.com/carlo-robelli-...tfit-crev25ofx Cool little neck axe for those wee hours through a small Ibanez acoustic IBZ10A (10 watt) amp with headphones. If not for this sucker I really think my kid would have ducked out of violin altogether in the early stages, humility being what it is. His acoustic violin stays pretty much cased since then. I got a looper pedal and he went all Owen Pallett on me. I wish I'd learned this instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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