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Think this would be ok for a fretboard?

Posted by Ducati Scotty on February 23, 2022 at 7:41pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I found this lovely piece of Brazilian rosewood, 1/4” x 1 1/2”, that would be lovely for a fretboard I’m building for a friend BUT it’s got what looks like a little bit of tear out from the planer.  It’s very shallow, but would I have to sand down to clean wood to use it as a fretboard?  I don’t want to sand that far, it would be hard to keep it level if I did.  What do you think?

Thanks,

Scott

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Replies

  • Ducati Scotty February 25, 2022 at 4:52pm

    That is a good thought, and it would look really nice.  I don't think it's going to be too thin this time around but I also have some 1/8" fretboards at home.  That would be a really nice touch when using those!

  • Taffy Evans February 25, 2022 at 4:48pm

    Hi again Ducati Scotty, just another thought, if you have to take the fingerboard blank down further than you would like to, to get rid of the imperfections, you might consider a thin veneer between the f/b and the neck. If a contrasting color is used it's a nice feature and gives back the thickness you wanted. 

    Cheers Taff

  • Ducati Scotty February 25, 2022 at 2:43pm

    I do hve a belt sander, and a large pad sander.  That's a good idea, faster and should keep it pretty flat.  Sometimes I forget I have power tools at my disposal.

  • BrianQ. February 24, 2022 at 7:00pm

    Do you have a friend or neighbor who owns a belt sander, you can get pretty good results with a smaller hand held model?

  • Taffy Evans February 24, 2022 at 2:51pm

    Hi, another trick, if the tearout is not overly widespread is to fill the area.

    To do this I use CA glue and wood dust. Two ways, one is to drop fill and sand back level. The other way is to pour CA glue over the area and sand over it, this ctreats dust at the same time drags a wood dust paste into the damaged timber, and it is the correct ish colour. Although the glue does make the dust a bit darker.

    If making your own dust to fill with, as in suggestion one, you will get finer dust if you sand across the end grain. I have done this countless times. Depending on the timber it can be nearly invisible. Try on scrap first.
    Cheers Taff

    • Ducati Scotty > Taffy Evans February 24, 2022 at 4:59pm

      That may be an option, though there are three distinct colors on this board.  Not sure what color fill I'd end up with if I just layed down glue and sanded!

  • BrianQ. February 24, 2022 at 2:06pm

    Why not use the other side? If you glue some coarse sandpaper to a flat surface, you can sand it flat?

    • Ducati Scotty > BrianQ. February 24, 2022 at 5:00pm

      Because both sides have the same kind of chatter!

      I think you're right, I'll just have to get a long sanding bean and sand it down flat.  The chatter isn't really that deep.

      Thanks,

      Scott

  • Wichita Sam February 23, 2022 at 9:56pm

    Is the pic of the edge? if so, and the flat sides are smooth, turn the edge with the "chatter" down to the neck.  It will hardly show. I'd use it.

    the best, Wichita Sam 

    • Ducati Scotty > Wichita Sam February 23, 2022 at 10:40pm

      Sadly, no.  The surface you see and the chatter on it is where the frets would go.  

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