I'm sure this has been asked many times , all my builds have used Saple fretboards , what i'd like to know is how to stop getting finger marks on the fretboard , is it the oil from the wood or grease from your fingers ? , I've just set up my 4th build and only after a few minutes of playing you can see where I've been playing on the 3rd 5th and 7th frets , I use Halfords Clear Lacquer on the necks gives a nice satin finish , but what can I use on the fretboard to seal it ?
Replies
Don't play your guitar after eating a bag of chips !
I don't usually put a finish on fingerboards, this one is just burnished with nylon net fabric after fine sanding
Never eat chips and all ways wash my hands before playing I must have oily skin ?
I usually finish sapele 'boards with a few coats of TruOil, and flat it back with 0000 grade wirewool before fretting - you can do exactly the same thing with Danish oil or spray lacquer.
There's no oil in Sapele to speak of, it's a very dry wood in that respect, but simply rubbing on lemon oil is OK, it will eventually mark-up, but better than leaving the wood bare.
Dont use linseed oil, it never dries and goes sticky.
Thanks John , as this build is all ready fretted i'll try the spray lacquer and on the next build i'll try the true oil before fretting .
I've never had problems with finger prints on the fretboard. All I do is finish the board with lemon oil (not for maple), and it looks great and resists marks.