Fingerboard Finish

Talk about musical instrument construction, setup and repair.

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yakka
Myrtle
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2015 5:49 pm

Fingerboard Finish

Post by yakka » Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:14 am

hello everyone,
i was wondering what finish/oil/whatever people use to finish the fingerboard on their instruments?
i have "the books" but cannot find it in them.
regards
yakka

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Trevor Gore
Blackwood
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Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:11 pm

Re: Fingerboard Finish

Post by Trevor Gore » Wed Apr 11, 2018 10:29 am

There's a brief mention, penultimate paragraph, Build p 23-2. For rosewood or ebony, oil, preferably a drying one, used very sparingly. Some of the the non-drying ones just penetrate for ever and there is no telling where they will migrate to.

blackalex1952
Blackwood
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Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:36 pm
Location: North East Victoria

Re: Fingerboard Finish

Post by blackalex1952 » Wed Apr 11, 2018 12:02 pm

Robbie O'Brien of O'Brien Guitars Colorado USA makes a "Luthiers Wax" that he uses on bridges, not sure about the fingerboards.-Ross.
"Everything I say on the topic is based solely upon inexperience and assumption!"

yakka
Myrtle
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2015 5:49 pm

Re: Fingerboard Finish

Post by yakka » Thu Apr 12, 2018 7:22 am

thanks for the replies

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Steve.Toscano
Blackwood
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Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:43 pm
Location: Port Stephens NSW

Re: Fingerboard Finish

Post by Steve.Toscano » Fri Apr 13, 2018 12:24 am

I use this stuff: http://www.ubeaut.com.au/aussie.htm

Not sure if it's a drying or non-drying one, but i've put it on 50+ fretboards of numerous species now and seems to do what is required.

Here it is on a Brazilian Bloodwood board:
Bloodwood Fretboard Oiled.jpg
I wouldn't normally oil a fingerboard board prior to fretting, this one was done as an example

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J.F. Custom
Blackwood
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Re: Fingerboard Finish

Post by J.F. Custom » Sun Apr 15, 2018 8:27 pm

I have used Organoil's Hard Burnishing oil very sparingly with success for years. Various suppliers.

To the best of my knowledge, it is a drying oil - though possibly not as much as others as I don't think it uses any synthetic catalysts or hardeners. Oil wise, it is a blend of tung, citrus and eucalyptus primarily.

Cheers,

Jeremy.

Lex
Myrtle
Posts: 52
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:53 pm

Re: Fingerboard Finish

Post by Lex » Mon Apr 16, 2018 12:32 pm

I also use a citrus tung oil like Jeremy, have done so for many years. Also a light wipe over when changing strings keeps the boards looking fantastic.

This is what I use http://www.howardproducts.com.au/orange ... d-oil.html

I have no connection with this company šŸ˜†

Cheers Tod G

yakka
Myrtle
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2015 5:49 pm

Re: Fingerboard Finish

Post by yakka » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:10 am

thanks again everyone for the replies

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