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Hi Guys

I have a guitar that I am making that has some beautiful Spidersweb Old Growth Brazilian as the fingerboard, Normally I use a lemon oil as a final prep for my fingerboards, this works great normally, but I tested a bit on this piece of wood and it just duls all the colour and kills the spidersweb, Does anyone have an alternative ?

Many Thanks

Russ

What does tung oil do for it. That's what I use and it realy looks nice on the Macasser Ebony I have

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Thanks Rod I will do a test.

Russell, as you well know, nearly anything is going to darken the wood. But you might try a little paste wax. I've had good results with that. (The kind that has Carnuba in it.)

Steve

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Hi Russell,
www.maurysmusic.com sells a brand name called "Petros"
fingerboard oil that is out of this world.
Petros makes guitars that sell for a King's Ransom.
If you want some let me know and I can get it for you.
I have tried it on BR...looks nice.

Regards, Walter

StewMac sells a finger board treatment oil that is realy good. I use it on every instrument that comes into my shop...on the fretboards and the bridges. But don't tell anyone it's a secret...

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

[QUOTE=Dave-SKG] StewMac sells a finger board treatment oil that is realy good. I use it on every instrument that comes into my shop...on the fretboards and the bridges. But don't tell anyone it's a secret... [/QUOTE]

Ditto - I love it.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I would not use tung or any other drying oil on rosewood. Bad things can
happen, and it will darken at least as much as with lemon oil (which will all
evaporate off in a couple of days, anyway).

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

this stuff Lance?

That's all well and nice, but it ain't gonna help Russel, since he can't get it shipped.'

Seriously, do all of you folks oil your 'boards? Because I've yet to really feel the need to.

Thanks Guys I think I am sorted now, I am either going to just polish it with micromesh, and if need be go with a small amount of wax, one of the beauties of this piece of wood is the colours and contrast so I don't want to darken it anymore than I have to.

Walter

Thanks for the kind offer buddy, I'm ok on this occasion thanks.

Mattia

Do you not apply anything to your boards ?

[QUOTE=RussellR]Mattia

Do you not apply anything to your boards ?[/QUOTE]

So far..no. Haven't needed to, to be honest. Just sand them, buff them with a T-shirt, and play them. The ebony ones are still looking just fine, no signs of being overly dry, the rosewood is more or less self-oiling (plus, y'know, finger oils). They do tend to look a little 'dry' right after a thorough cleaning, which is why I'm curious as to what people would reccomend applying to them. This said, play them for another week or two, and they look at feel fine again. I don't put anything on bridges either.Mattia Valente38695.1325810185

Thanks Mattia

Keep in mind I've only built a grand total of, what 9-10 instruments. And only one of those is an acoustic (completed). They've all got fingerboards, though

I have to agree with Mattia, I fdon't put anything on my fingerboards just good old finger oil from playing. Buff them to a soft shine with cloth and the bare hand (till the hand gets too hot from the friction) and leave them be. They ill then develop that lovely old patina of use that you normally have to pay $20k for a vintage Martin to get.

I have only used Brazilian rosewood for my fingerboards but have now run out , I have switched to Madagascan rosewood as a substitute, and shall use the same (non)-treatment.

Russell, that's not the board that Andy sent me the picture of when I was away is it? I knew I should've bought it!

ColinColin S38696.2026851852

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Colin

It is its cousin, I also have the one he sent you pictures of in my wood store.

"Buff them to a soft shine with cloth and the bear hand (till the hand gets too
hot from the friction) and leave them be."

Where do you get the bear hand? I thought trade in them was illegal.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Howard your a trip.

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[QUOTE=Howard Klepper] "Buff them to a soft shine with cloth and the bear hand (till the hand gets too
hot from the friction) and leave them be."

Where do you get the bear hand? I thought trade in them was illegal.[/QUOTE]

Hey don't you guys still have your childhood teddy?

Colin

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[QUOTE=RussellR] Colin

It is its cousin, I also have the one he sent you pictures of in my wood store. [QUOTE]

~##****!    Colin S38696.206099537

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Hi Colin

Well there is no need to swear

At the moment it is unsold, so if you need it for a project, let me know and we can sort it.

Alternately Andy has some others not quite as nice.

[QUOTE=Howard Klepper] "Buff them to a soft shine with cloth and the bear hand (till the hand gets too
hot from the friction) and leave them be."

Where do you get the bear hand? I thought trade in them was illegal.[/QUOTE]

Use a rabbitt's foot on a uke!