Is it safe if I coat with WD40 the metal parts of my electric guitar? If not, please advice me how to keep the metal parts from oxidizing?
I have already keep my electric guitar in a tightly closed case with silica gels inside but it still oxidizes. What to do?

No problem. I don't see it will harm. You are not using you guitar for long time? Remove string and keep it separately in dry cabinet

Actually many discourage you to use WD40 on guitars. (try looking online)

I have never tried on mine.

hard to avoid oxidization...unless u can control the humidity.
wd40 i wouldnt use it...hard to get off if u accidentally get some on the body...and it shouldnt even go near a fretboard...unless u want long term damage.

WD40 - fine if applied on metal parts but not suitable on wood. Don't spray WD40 on your guitar strings as it will ruin the fretboard. And don't apply it on hardware (bridge, tuners etc.) that are still attached to the guitar.

Silica gel - you would need many packs and would have to replace these regularly as the desiccant will perpetually absorb the moisture around it, especially since guitar cases do not have airtight seals; an exercise in futility which wouldn't be economically sustainable in the long run for most people.

The relatively humidity in our climate (Malaysia) ranges between 70% and 90%, therefore rust is inevitable. If the temperature of the room, where the guitar is stored, is constant (i.e. not warming up and cooling down everyday), there would be less chance of condensation which would in turn mean slower oxidization of metal parts.

Polishing the metal parts is also pointless because you're stripping away the chrome plating, wearing out the gold/nickel finish etc. Best to let a layer of dull, black oxide form, which in turn protects the metal from further oxidization.

You could try jewellery cleaner for some short term restoration, but I think it's a waste of time. And I avoid buying guitars with gold hardware for this reason.

This post has been edited by Ramin: Sep 11 2017, 07:09 PM

nah, don't bother doing that. have you tried wiping your guitar every time u're done playing?

silica gel doesnt work, cause chances are you use those that have been used or never change them.

go to giant get dehumidifiers , its pretty much the same shit, but that will do the job. chuck it in, for a week or two, then when it gets all liquid, throw , rinse and repeat

its ok for metal parts to oxidize, most of the time it just gets a little bit off coloured, wont really damage the axe

dont waste your time fretting over this. all guitars in a high humidity country like Malaysia will suffer the same fate anyway. No matter what you do, your guitar will still oxidise. just do your best to live with it.

Thank you guys for the great advice. Maybe the best way is to get rid of the oxidation is clean them like every after each use or polish the metal parts every 3 months.

just play the guitar, dont bother if its clean a not and dont clean them after every use.

the way to go about it, is to buy something to measure humidity (daiso or lazada has it), then go giant buy this (cheapest ive found thus far)


then chuck both into your guitar hardcase. yes it needs a hardcase one where you dont get much ventilation,wait for a day, the humidity in the case should go down, then when the dehumidifiers turn watery, chuck them away, replace.

rinse and repeat forever,

Or you can do the expensive way,

go buy a dehumifier machine, they cost about a few hundred to a grand or so, chuck in it a room, best in an elevated platform, put the output hose into a pail, leave it on when you are not home.