How to care for your Celluloid Guard
Celluloid is fragile compared to modern plastics. It may last decades but it will change. Yellowing, cracking and shrinking may develop and no way to tell for sure in what order. Lots of old Fenders still have original guards and Lashing Guards are the exact same material - thus they will last/perform the same way.
Do not subject Celluloid to solvents. Acetone melts Celluloid as do some alcohols. This does not mean spilled beer will eat your guard. Harsh alcohols like Methyl Hydrate are what I refer to. Anything in the "solvent" category, even Isopropyl. Not exactly the type of thing most people place near their guitars. Celluloid is very similar to nitro cellulose finishes. What harms celluloid will probably mess up your finish first therefore caring for your guitar normally will do just fine. Vintage guitars and nitro finishes are best cleaned with a simple dusting or a moist (with water) rag.
Leaving Celluloid in a hot trunk will warp it. Again - you will hurt your guitars wood at the same time so these are not special instructions just common sense.
Play guitar, enjoy and watch as your Celluloid takes on its own character. That is the beauty of organic compounds. They will show their age beautifully.
Some myths about Celluloid:
Rubbing it to hard will cause friction that could ignite. This is BS. Celluloid will ignite immediately if subjected to open flame. However simply rubbing it is not going to do anything. We cut it, drill it, sand it, buff it etc all the time. It is very flammable for sure but people get carried away (never trust an internet forum). Common sense is your best friend.
Dropping a cigarette on your pickguard could start a fire. Dropping your cigarette anywhere could start a fire. More probably, a cigarette on a Celluloid guard will melt and burn leaving a noticeable scar. It may indeed ignite. Usually it takes open flame but a hot enough butt hitting just so - yes it could light up.
Once a train car full of Celluloid exploded from being in the sun. This is a wives tale. No one has been able to supply the date, train company, insurance carrier or any other provable detail about this mythical event.
Celluloid is illegal. No it isn't. Celluloid is obsolete. Its a specialty item and that's why no one in America makes it. The raw materials used to manufacture celluloid are indeed controlled explosives and manufacturing or transporting it in raw form take much paperwork. A guitar pickguard is not illegal nor a controlled substance. Celluloid is still used for ping pong balls as it is the only plastic offering the "bounce". Other uses are pens, picks and .. pickguards. Eyeglass frames used to be made from Celluloid and those are now illegal in many places. Reason being Celluloid "spits" when ignited. That's why those cool tortoise eyeglass frames look different today than the vintage ones. Celluloid is better looking but it was not a risk governments felt people should take being near the eyes.
Dolls used to be make from Celluloid. This is true. Those cheap hollow dolls in the 60's we now find with caved in faces - those are usually Celluloid. Again, because of its instant flammability Celluloid was banned for use in Children's toys. The exception still being ping pong balls.
I could melt ping pong balls and make a pickguard. No you couldn't. You would start a nice fire and end up with ashes. Once Celluloid is formed it cannot be melted and formed into something else. It doesn't work that way.
To enquire about Lashing Guitars or our fine parts products email lashing
©2009 Lashing Guitars www.lashingguitars.com