Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Reeds Taylor on August 3, 2014 at 3:03pm

I always put my fret board on last...reason being I use oil for finish on my boards.....and urethane on the actual neck..

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on August 3, 2014 at 4:32pm

Agree with Reeds: use oil on the fretboard, not poly.

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Permalink Reply by Biscuit on August 3, 2014 at 5:18pm

Yes exactly -- I wanted to keep the neck finish off of the fretboard. So either I tape it off while finishing the neck, or I attach it at the end. It sounds like putting it on at the end is the way to go, so I'll do that. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Mullen on August 3, 2014 at 8:54pm

I guess I will have to throw a different opinion in just to stir it up.  I glue my fret board on before I finish the neck.  My fret boards are over sized when I glue them on, then I cut them down and sand them flush to then neck.  I also drill side fret position markers in along the glue joint (half in the neck and half in the fret board).  I install the fret position markers on top of the fret board after this and then check to insure the fret is perfectly flat.  I use Truoil as my finish and apply it to both the neck and fret board prior to installing the fret wire.

Not sure if my process it right, but it work for me.

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Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on August 3, 2014 at 9:13pm

Same here. Getting a fretboard placement spot on after finishing the neck would be difficult. I tend to shape the neck and trim fretboards kind of both before and after attaching the fretboard dependiing on how it looks and how I feel at the time. The rub on finish I use (minwax wipe on poly) goes over fretboard fine. 

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Permalink Reply by Better Trees on August 11, 2014 at 1:29am

Screw fret markers or screws set in under inlay fret markers would make it so that you could have it shaped down perfectly and then finish and reset. You'd also get to fret it off the neck, which is always a billion times simpler.  Though I have trouble arguing with Dan. He's top-tier.

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Permalink Reply by Michael L. Castle on August 13, 2014 at 11:26am

On my 1st build(s), and I'm wondering about this sequence... Also tryin' 2 figure out what kind of finish to use....

Hadn't thought about "minwax wipe on poly".... Are you using the "satin", or the "gloss"?

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Permalink Reply by Biscuit on August 4, 2014 at 6:19pm

Thanks for the breakdown of the steps and the green tape tip -- that is helpful. I was thinking to install frets before gluing figuring it might be easier to manage things like filing the edges, etc. But it will be my first time fretting so it makes sense to follow what works for people in practice. 

One thing I was worried about was getting the board to line up perfectly straight when gluing. In my past experience when I try to glue and clamp things, it's sometimes hard to keep things from getting squirrely and sliding about unless there is some mechanical means to lock things. I was even contemplating hiding some locating pins between the neck and board to make sure things stay put, but likely I'm making it harder than it needs to be. Final sanding after glue up as Dan suggests sounds more straight forward.

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Permalink Reply by robert jones on August 4, 2014 at 11:46pm

I use locator pins most of the time.

I use actual straight pins . I push a couple into the neck on the center line and cut them off with wire cutters. This leaves just the right amount protruding to stop the fretboard from sliding when gluing up.

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Permalink Reply by Biscuit on August 4, 2014 at 6:03pm

Wow that's beautiful. Nice combination of different woods. I've never seen side markers like that.

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Permalink Reply by robert jones on August 3, 2014 at 9:57pm

You might want to check into the Tru-Oil Dan mentions.

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Permalink Reply by Michael L. Castle on August 4, 2014 at 6:12am

I'm debating whether to use tung oil, or Tru oil on my neck(s) & fretboard(s)...( maple, poplar, red oak... ). Anybody have any thoughts, preferences, ...? Also, what about polyurethane? ( I thought ting oil was pretty pricey... until I saw that Tru oil was almost twice as much! ) These will be my first builds. I'd appreciate some advice. ( Like: where can I find the best prices on these? )

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