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dying fretboards???
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Author:  bekker [ Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:36 am ]
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Ok good people of olf! Im building my first acoustic guitar and have some questions. My main question is this. Im a fan of inlay and when it comes to fret boards I think they look best on black. When I comes to dying say, ebony to get it pitch black, are there any disadvantages? I mean does it wear well? I know stew mack sells a good die.


 


I have been talked out of using my 5A koa for my first guitar…haha but I was thinking of using some birds eye maple I have laying around. This is for a om guitar. Haven’t seen many with bird’s eye, any comments?


 


Also if anyone has any good fret boards they would like to unload (4 ish) at a good price let me know ; )


 
Author:  Bob Long [ Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:45 pm ]
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Hi Matt, I have never dyed a FB before. I guess I like the look of the ebony
with a little varigation in it. You can get a more premium grade from
many of the suppliers that is as black as a dyed FB would be.

As far as the birds eye ... it can be really difficult to work with. The eyes
are easily knocked out when routing. It really depends on what tools and
approach you use building. But it will of course make great guitar.

long
Author:  Anthony Z [ Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:58 pm ]
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What Todd said! I've dyed or darkened streaked ebony using Fiebings Leather dye with success. StewMac and I think LMI sell it or you can pick it up from leather supply stores.

Use disposable rubber gloves and old clothes when applying it as the stuff really stains skin and its hard to wash off.
Author:  MSpencer [ Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:58 pm ]
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Welcome Bekker!

I have received some really nice ebony that are black without blemishes from both LMI and StewMac.

AntonyZ - I am curious as well on the dye process as relates to wear over time, does it hold up?

Mike
Author:  Anthony Z [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:41 am ]
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Mike, I've got a guitar that's about 3 years old and the fretboard still looks like the day it was dyed.
Author:  MSpencer [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:43 am ]
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Thanks

Mike
Author:  npalen [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:56 am ]
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Anthony--What kind of problems would I run into when dyeing a fretboard with MOP inlays and ABS white binding?
Nelson
Author:  Anthony Z [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:33 am ]
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Nelson, I dyed my fretboard with Fiebings after it was inlayed with block MOP position markers and before I bound and fretted the fretboard.   Just make sure that your MOP is polished to about 320 or 400 grit otherwise the dye will show in the fine scratches left by 220 grit sand paper. I even buffed the fretboard with Medium Mezerna (brown stuff) after fretting and the dye held up nicely. (I use a cheapo 6” buff as the buff will darken from the frets and the dye).

I picked this tip up from Darrel Friesen years ago and it works. I have also dyed ebony Archtop tailpieces and finger rests using Fiebings then sanded with fine grit paper and then buffed and it holds its darker colour.

For the ABS binding if you dye after the fretboard is bound – the dye could be removed with a razor blade.
Author:  bekker [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:59 am ]
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thanks 2 everyone!
Author:  npalen [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:58 am ]
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Thanks, Anthony and all.
Author:  LanceK [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:16 pm ]
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I've never been a fan of dye for ebony, to me it takes on an artificial look. That said the stuff that stewmac sells works well. I have it, just don't use it on my guitars.
Author:  Anthony Z [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:09 pm ]
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It's all in how you apply the dye and buff it out I wish I could post a picture of two of my guitars -- you wouldn't be able to tell which was dyed and which wasn't.

Hesh I agree that if you try to dye a steaked ebony fretboard a uniform jet black it can look unnatural.

Lance/Hesh -- both of you saw the one that was dyed -- and appreciate you may not have looked at it that closely.

Having said that -- a naturally streaked ebony fretboard looks just fine...nothing like the natural beauty of wood.

It just occured to me -- a couple months ago someone posted a more natural method of dying fretboards in reply to a thread initiated by Dave-SKG -- I think it was Lillian or Sam Price -- I couldn't find it in the archives.
Anthony Z39108.9668171296
Author:  Lillian F-W [ Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:31 pm ]
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I posted a link to an old recipe for black dye. It uses vinegar and iron, like steel wool. It takes some time for it to get really dark. You should be able to find it floating in cyberspace.
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