Cleaning inside the body

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Author Message   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 9:05 am:    At the risk of making myself look stupid, I have a simple question. Is there anything that can/should be done to the *inside* of an acoustic guitar to clean it, polish it, or preserve it (electronics notwithstanding)? I have quite a patina of dust that has accumulated inside my old guitars, since at times over the years I've left them out uncovered. I've also got some glue or wood chips in there from some cleating repairs over the years. Should I snake a vacuum hose in there, or is this dangerous? Is there some kind of spray treatment for the guitar interior which might also be advisable as protection? Just looking for some input/advice.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 6:21 pm:    "Should I snake a vacuum hose in there, or is this dangerous?" Without taking the right precautions, yes. So take the right precautions! 1) use a vacuum cleaner with adjustable power; 2) use a low power position; 3) use the "feather duster" brush of your vacuum cleaner, so that there will never be a vacuum between the hose and the wood/parts. One more tip. Several months ago I bought a second hand special "Car cleaning set" for the Miele vacuum cleaner, although I didn't even have a Miele. I "dremeled" the hose of our old Bosch which I use for the car only. But there was this thin hose in the car cleaning set which I can sink into the long fenders of my Celica to suck up the oak leaves and dirt it collects. And there's a small feather duster brush for that hose too. Now this combination is very suitable for the inside of acoustics. But like I said: I bought the set second hand for €7.50 List price €82.- Sh.., I just read they've been discontinued, because it was for the older models. http://www.internetshop.nl/popinframe.pl?url=http: //www.internetshop.nl/witgoed/accessoir/miele_4199 6403.html?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.nl%2Fsearch% 3Fhl%3Dnl%26q%3Dmiele%2Bcar%2Bcleaning%26meta%3D I hoped to show you a picture of it. It's really a practical set in a beautiful case. But they removed it. Perhaps there are such sets for other brands too. Ginger   Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 8:05 pm:    Chazmo, The easiest way to clean dust from the inside is to simply throw a few grains of rice inside the guitar. Over time the dust clings to the rice and you empty it out. Wood shavings don't cling however.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 9:57 pm:    Hey, thanks so much for the suggestions, folks! Maybe I'll try the rice trick first! Yeah, Ginger, I guess there's no picture of the Miele attachment. I get what you're saying though. I'll definitely look for a vacuum that has a gentle setting and a brush tip that will prevent the hose from sucking on the wood.

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