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Hi all, has anybody used Austrailian Lacewood for a fret board? Is it hard enough to hold the frets? Will it last? thanks for any input.
Red

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We Bend the Wood, So You Can Bend the Strings

Yes, I have used lacewood but it was called Leopard wood.Lacewood and leopard wood look very similar but leopard is much harder and denser ,color is slightly darker too.As far as holding frets is concerned treat it like East Indian Rosewood.Finish with a polymerizing oil or gel to get a more even hardness between the softer and denser grain.
You might want to lightly finish the fretboard before fretting for a better seat on your frets.
One more thing DONT USE STEEL WOOL it will scrub out the softer grain.
Good luck

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How long is that in luthyears?

Thanks for the good advise Brett.

Red

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We Bend the Wood, So You Can Bend the Strings

G'day Red

Lacewood is called Silky Oak down here and if it is the same wood it's generally quite soft.

I haven't built with it but I've resawn a bit of it.

I know Jack Spira has used it for backs and sides and he reported that it dents fairly easily.

If your wood is the same I don't reckon it's suitable for a fingerboard.

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

A tip...

The title of this thread has no bearing on the question posed. I'd suggest that if you want a thread to have a life, that you title it reasonably based on the content you'd like to see. I don't have a clue to what the phrase "fretting over a board" means. It's not a lutherie term I've come across in 40 years...

As for what to do...saturate the lacewood with epoxy to harden it.