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Dust inside the box!
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=53232
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Author:  cablepuller1 [ Mon May 18, 2020 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Dust inside the box!

Hi

What the best way for cleaning inside the box, fitting a LR bags system so want the cleats and stuff to stick okay.
TiaImage

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Author:  wbergman [ Mon May 18, 2020 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

I am not sure what you are doing, but never vacuum in the box.

Author:  meddlingfool [ Mon May 18, 2020 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

I use a vac every time as I don’t have a blower.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon May 18, 2020 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

I use a vac all the time, just be real careful not to close off the sound hole or it can go real bad in a hurry and collapse the box. No different than working with any other power tool that can cause damage if misused. Often I will take a 3' or 4' piece of small diameter hose, maybe 1/2" or 3/4" ID, slide it a few feet into the regular vacuum hose and you can vacuum with that. It's safer and will get into smaller spaces if needed.

If there is goop that needs to be cleaned off then naptha is my first choice.

Author:  DennisK [ Mon May 18, 2020 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

Toothbrush to loosen it up, then vacuum.

Author:  Joe Beaver [ Mon May 18, 2020 2:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

I blow it out. It will take a while for all the dust to exit out the soundhole.

Author:  J De Rocher [ Mon May 18, 2020 2:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

I always vacuum out the inside of the box using a small nozzle attachment. No problems.

Author:  Mark Mc [ Mon May 18, 2020 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

For really dusty old boxes there is a tip that Frank Ford describes. Use some rice as an abrasive to clean out adherent dust and grime. Read it here (but note the disclaimer about the paper label):
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier ... clean.html

Author:  Bri [ Mon May 18, 2020 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

I stick the air blower inside and the vac at the edge of the sound hole. Gentle on the trigger.

B

Author:  Clay S. [ Mon May 18, 2020 4:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

If you use rice (which works very well) have a vacuum cleaner handy to vacuum the rice out. I've used rice to clean up violins where a vacuum won't fit. Shaking that last grain of rice out through the ff holes can be rather frustrating. [headinwall]

Author:  Mike OMelia [ Mon May 18, 2020 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

The rice idea is cool!

I blow through end pin hole, small vac tube in sound hole. I clean areas that will have sticky things attached (wire holders, soundhole volume, battery velcro) with Acetone.

Author:  DennisK [ Mon May 18, 2020 9:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

I tried rice once, but it left the inside of the guitar covered with fine white powder and smelling like rice.

Author:  Ruby50 [ Tue May 19, 2020 9:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

Easy - just a call away

Author:  Pat Foster [ Tue May 19, 2020 10:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

Blowing or vacuum, either way can go south. I know of once instance where a finisher blew the top off a guitar.

Author:  David Newton [ Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

The shop vac is too dangerous around the sound hole. I use a blow dryer on the no-heat setting. On old guitars with a build up of dust, thick and stuck in the corners, I reach in with a shop rag and drag it around to loosen it up before blowing, and hold my breath so I don't breathe in that nasty stuff.
If all you are doing is gluing something and not doing a general clean up, just rub the rag on the spot you need. I can reach most every corner of the guitar thru the hole with my hand and a shop rag. Skinny arms I guess.

Author:  Chris Pile [ Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

Dust is not the problem. It's the dust bunnies, dead insects, and leftovers from small mammals.

Author:  CarlD [ Fri Jun 12, 2020 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

Don't forget the roaches. The dropped ones. bliss

Author:  Alan Carruth [ Sun Jun 14, 2020 11:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

A friend of mine got done working on a fiddle and called the customer to come get it. The guy asked if he'd replaced the tone ball; the dust bunny that absorbs all the objectionable high frequencies. 'Sure' he said, and then spent the next half hour while the guy drove by collecting dust balls from old fiddles. One can see a market for that: wool and linen tone balls for traditionalists, polyester for 'modern' music, and crystal tone balls for 'New Age'. We all know about the rattlesnake rattles the Texas players use to add 'snap' to the tone....

Author:  jfmckenna [ Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dust inside the box!

I use a vacuum with a thin flexable hose that fits all around the inside of the box. I never gave it a thought that it would implode O.o

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