Arthur, you are right on. I have used this method, and it works well, for me. 2 years ago, I decided to clean up some instruments I had for 20 + years, and they had turned quite dark in color. So, I used a very soft, old rag, and actually spit (yes, goobers!) and gently rubbed the old grime off. One needs to be careful to not remove the finish, just the grime. Especially my old 10 course, made of cherry in 1980, came out beautiful. Before the cleaning, it was difficult to visualize the grain. Now, it appears wonderful.
Another product to use is, if you can find it, "Parker's Perfect Polish". It can help clean as it polishes the wood. It is an old fashioned item, but it works well. ed At 04:19 PM 11/1/2006 -0500, Arthur Ness wrote: >That suggestion usually shocks some people. But it was >from Kenneth Bé, a conservator at the Cleveland Museum >of Fine Arts. They actually use spit to clean the grime >of centuries from paintings by the old masters. So he >uses spit also to clean his lutes. But perhaps he can >explain more. > >==ajn >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Arthur Ness" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Alan Barnosky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; ><lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> >Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 1:51 PM >Subject: [LUTE] Re: cleaning > > > > Spit! > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Alan Barnosky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> > > Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 1:15 PM > > Subject: [LUTE] cleaning > > > > > >>I am brand new to this list, if this question has come > >> up before, I apoligize, but I don't know of a way to > >> search old messages. > >> > >> I have a 8 course rennasiance lute - the soundboard > >> is > >> only lightly finished. I've had it for about 2 years > >> and where I have placed the pinky is really dirty. > >> Anyone know how I should go about cleaning this? > >> Not exactly sure what the wood is. > >> > >> Thanks! > >> Alan > >> > >> > >> > >> > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > >> Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! > >> Small Business > >> (http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com) > >> > >> > >> > >> To get on or off this list see list information at > >> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > >> > > > > > > > > Edward Martin 2817 East 2nd Street Duluth, Minnesota 55812 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] voice: (218) 728-1202
