Well, after 10 hours at Alder Hey Hospital today, I've learnt that fretboard lemon oil contains Petroleum Distillates (PD). In the D'Addario stuff its actually 98% PD, so the doc informed me. News to me. Sam my 17 month old had managed to get the top of the bottle and swallow some. Realising this, after cleaning his mouth out I read the tiny small print which stated 'highly poisonous, can be fatal if swallowed'. Oh fuck, and obvious panic ensued. Ten hours of observation later, Sam is absolutely fine, no vomiting, seizures or breathing issues. So, two points here: I thought lemon oil was only made from, err....lemons. And, you'd think the words 'poisonous' and 'fatal' would be freakin bigger, and a hazard/poison symbol would be somewhere on the bottle.
I'm posting this just so people with kids are aware and, now that I know, it should be in a secure cupboard along with the bleach, etc.
Cheers
Comments
Wonder what it tastes like..
Just had a look at my dunlop ultimate lemon oil. Says not to swallow n keep away from kids, but doesnt say its highly poisonous.. though presuming it is as per the do not swallow label.
Its voc compliant, biodegradable and 'green' it says.. haha.
thanks for the heads up. i think there should be a skull & crossbones to make people take notice if any highly toxic product smells like food. small toys that smell of food are generally frowned upon for the same reason.
doesn't surprise me that it's only a couple of drops of lemon oil in a cheap petroleum base oil tho. i get it all the time in so-called ethical & green cosmetics (more a girl than boy thing obvs).
luckily IBS makes me a neurotic packaging reader but worth making this more widely known.
Seriously though - my son did exactly the same thing at 18 months old - so much for child-proof lids! Luckily I stopped him before he actually consumed any but it taught me a lesson about where to store it in future.
Glad the little man is ok.
A lot of people use food grade mineral oil on necks. Not only far cheaper but will do no harm if swallowed.
Glad he's none the worse for it.
FWIW the only oil I've used on a fretboard is a brazil rubbed over it although that could be harmful to someone with a nut allergy.
I'd be surprised if a couple of drops of mineral oil can kill though.
There was a post recently with a link to a series of vids by the luthier who was refretting Kelly Jones' Gibson SG, and he spoke about lemon oil explaining there's no lemon in it, and that the lemon smell was artificially put in there. I can't recall if he used the word poisonous but I think he did talk about what was in it!
Ah, clearly a connoisseur of the different brands.
Now the scare's over, call him up, maybe he'll let you see his PRS collection!
it does smell nice though.
Glad he's ok.
On the plus side you'll appreciate the improved tone of his singing voice next time he's doing 3am karaoke.