Official Luthiers Forum!

As a rank amateur, I don't know many of the "tricks" for finishing around fretboards.  My only experience is with unbound electric guitar necks.  With a dark ebony board, the finish can be taken all the way up the edge.  Any finish that gets on the fret ends has to be polished away.

Through the OLF, I'm learning about all of the complex binding and purfling work that acoustic builders do, and it blows my mind.  After sealing these areas with shellac, epoxy, or CA, what are some of the masking tools and techniques that you use to keep the finish colors separate?

I ask because I haven't developed much skill with masking.  I tried to do "masked binding" on a solidbody project, and there was lots of bleed through.  Pointers to books and other threads would be appreciated.

-Ben

If all you're trying to do is mask off a fret board prior to applying finish, it's pretty easy. Choosing the correct tape can make a big  difference. 3M's blue masking tape works good here and is generally available. The green and tan ones work as well

I start by tacking one end down on the head stock and work it down into the nut slot with a small steel rule or something similar. Then running the tape down the board, taking care NOT to pull it too tight. When I get to a fret I use my thumb nail to work it tight up against the fret on both sides then on to the next. Repeat for the other side and fill in the center as required. You will probably need to work the tape tight up to the frets a couple of times to really get it to stick down. I wouldn't hurt to rub the edges down with your thumb nail as well. That's why you don't stretch the tape. If you do it will have a tendency to want to pull back up. Trim the ends with a razor blade and your set to go. If you get any bleed through it can be cleaned up with a razor blade used like a scraper.

Hope that helps

_________________
Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia