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Fretboard staining, finishing, etc

Posted by Jason W. on December 20, 2010 at 9:50pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I'm working on my first ever commissioned CBG and I've got a few questions for the more knowledgeable folks out there.

 

I've heard that fretboards are ideally "conditioned" with a little linseed oil. Is this correct and are there any alternatives to linseed oil?

 

I'm also looking into trying some epoxy inlays for the first time and was wondering if anyone had recommendations on a brand/type of epoxy or pigments (I'd like a nice pearl look).

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Replies

  • Glaze January 17, 2011 at 5:10am


    Jason W. said:
    I think this is what I'll try for the inlays next if the embossing and epoxy stuff doesn't work out.

    I invested in some tung oil and have used a bit of it on an unfinished box I had laying around. It's very nice. Glad
    I picked it up.



    Tung oil is a great natural looking finish.  It's perfect for CBG's.  I would not do the epoxy with powdered turquoise or some other powdered material inlay technique on very large areas.  I did it with real turquoise on small round side marker dots on a fretboard.  Would also work as fretboard marker dots on the top of the fretboard which would be extremely easy by just drilling shallow holes and filling them.  I just smashed real turquoise with a hammer until it was reduced to a fine powder and mixed the turquoise powder with epoxy.   
     
  • Jason W. January 16, 2011 at 4:51pm
    I think this is what I'll try for the inlays next if the embossing and epoxy stuff doesn't work out.

    I invested in some tung oil and have used a bit of it on an unfinished box I had laying around. It's very nice. Glad
    I picked it up.



    Glaze said:

    I have painted over 400 guitars in my life.  I have also experimented with many finishes on guitars.  Polymerized tung oil is superior to linseed oil.  One of my electric guitars is finished with Sutherland Welles polymerized tung oil, this finish is very natural looking and very durable.  You can research this product here:

      http://www.sutherlandwelles.com/tung-oil/why/

     

    It's not cheap, but it is the best tung oil I have ever used.  

     

    I have done some custom inlays in the past.  I bought some nice turquoise from a rock hound once who told me I could smash the turquoise into a powder and mix that with epoxy to do custom inlays with it.  I tried it and it worked great.  Just fill your inlay and sand it flush after it hardens.    

  • Glaze January 16, 2011 at 5:54am

    I have painted over 400 guitars in my life.  I have also experimented with many finishes on guitars.  Polymerized tung oil is superior to linseed oil.  One of my electric guitars is finished with Sutherland Welles polymerized tung oil, this finish is very natural looking and very durable.  You can research this product here:

      http://www.sutherlandwelles.com/tung-oil/why/

     

    It's not cheap, but it is the best tung oil I have ever used.  

     

    I have done some custom inlays in the past.  I bought some nice turquoise from a rock hound once who told me I could smash the turquoise into a powder and mix that with epoxy to do custom inlays with it.  I tried it and it worked great.  Just fill your inlay and sand it flush after it hardens.    

  • Dave Onastik January 15, 2011 at 9:43am
    That's a good link Don.  I've been thinking of trying inlace for a future neck.

    Don Thompson said:

    Jason, If you have an automotive paint supply store in your area ask about tinting powder for pearl finishes and the like. Woodcraft stores or perhaps Ace hardware carry a 24 set expoxy. Don't even bother with the 5 minute crap, that's for little girls. You may have better luck than I with the process. Premix the epoxy then add the tint powder. Pick up with toothpick whatever apply to inlay. Let it cure at least two days before sanding flat. Try a trial piece. You might think about using crushed stone and epoxy for inlay.

    http://www.arizonagourds.com/inlace.html

    Don

    Jason W. said:

    I really appreciate the feedback guys. The reason I asked about the linseed oil is that I couldn't find any at the local stores. Tung Oil is pretty plentiful, though. I'll have to test it out...

     

    The reason I wanted to use epoxy is because I want to carve out some custom fret markings, not just the standard round ones.

  • Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) January 14, 2011 at 6:46pm
    Heh, trust me.  it does.

    Jason W. said:
    Just crazy enough to work!! 

    Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) said:
    Wet sand with olive oil.
  • Jason W. January 14, 2011 at 5:05pm

    SO, I've done some experimenting. I tried a 330 epoxy mixture and an "opaque epoxy pigment". The result were not very good. It didn't stand out very well and it never fully dried.

     

    Now I'm playing alchemist and trying some stuff with epoxy and embossing powder. I did a heated mixture last night that hardened up very nicely, but only in the can I was mixing it in. If I could just get it from the can to the inlays now...

  • Jason W. December 27, 2010 at 2:54pm
    Just crazy enough to work!! 

    Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) said:
    Wet sand with olive oil.
  • Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) December 22, 2010 at 11:01pm
    Wet sand with olive oil.
  • Jason W. December 21, 2010 at 6:56pm

    Ah, excellent. Thats what I was looking for. I'll try things out and post how they go.

     

    Thanks for the info guys!

    Don Thompson said:

    Jason, If you have an automotive paint supply store in your area ask about tinting powder for pearl finishes and the like. Woodcraft stores or perhaps Ace hardware carry a 24 set expoxy. Don't even bother with the 5 minute crap, that's for little girls. You may have better luck than I with the process. Premix the epoxy then add the tint powder. Pick up with toothpick whatever apply to inlay. Let it cure at least two days before sanding flat. Try a trial piece. You might think about using crushed stone and epoxy for inlay.

    http://www.arizonagourds.com/inlace.html

    Don

    Jason W. said:

    I really appreciate the feedback guys. The reason I asked about the linseed oil is that I couldn't find any at the local stores. Tung Oil is pretty plentiful, though. I'll have to test it out...

     

    The reason I wanted to use epoxy is because I want to carve out some custom fret markings, not just the standard round ones.

  • Don Thompson December 21, 2010 at 6:36pm

    Jason, If you have an automotive paint supply store in your area ask about tinting powder for pearl finishes and the like. Woodcraft stores or perhaps Ace hardware carry a 24 set expoxy. Don't even bother with the 5 minute crap, that's for little girls. You may have better luck than I with the process. Premix the epoxy then add the tint powder. Pick up with toothpick whatever apply to inlay. Let it cure at least two days before sanding flat. Try a trial piece. You might think about using crushed stone and epoxy for inlay.

    http://www.arizonagourds.com/inlace.html

    Don

    Jason W. said:

    I really appreciate the feedback guys. The reason I asked about the linseed oil is that I couldn't find any at the local stores. Tung Oil is pretty plentiful, though. I'll have to test it out...

     

    The reason I wanted to use epoxy is because I want to carve out some custom fret markings, not just the standard round ones.

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