SamirCanada
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Fingerboard finish
I would like to know if it is advisable to use a finish on fingerboards...
I have sanded verry lightly the fingerboard to get rid of the groove made by the strings where the fingers press them... I would like to know what
kind of finishing product I should use to make the fingerboard somewhat resistant to that problem.
Thanks
Samir
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Jameel
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Most instrument fingerboards aren't finished at all, save for a light oiling once in a while. You can use a fingerboard oil sold for guitars. No
finish will prevent wear of the fingerboard. In fact, if you put a film finish (lacquer, shellac, varnish) you will make the fingerboard worse,
potentially gummy (mixing with oils in your fingers), and the finish will flake off with play. Best thing is to make sure your hands are clean
(especially important for us Middle easterners with oily skin) when you play. When you change strings make sure the fingerboard is clean, soak a
cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and wipe it down--not dripping wet--you don't want to melt the finish on the neck or back. This will remove any crud or
accumulated "dirt" on the fingerboard. Sometimes I take a razor blade and scrape it off. Not with a cutting action, but with the razor held straight
up and down, dragging it across the surface. You're not removing wood!, just any accumulated stuff. If you need to do this, you haven't been washing
your hands. (Don't ask me how I know this  Use a little fingerboard oil at this
time if you like. Re-string your oud.
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Dr. Oud
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| Quote: | | Originally posted by SamirCanada...lightly the fingerboard to get rid of the groove made by the strings where the fingers press them...
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There is a another treatment for those pesky grooves. Get some filled epoxy used for bonding metal (also known as JB Weld) to fill the groves. Be sure
to clean the grooves thoroughly with alcohol before filling with the epoxy and scrape the excess off before it sets completely, (it's very hard to
sand). Then sand it down with a sanding block as big or bigger then the entire fingerboard to avoid creating a dip in the fingerboard surface. Then do
the oil treatment Jameel noted.
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SamirCanada
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Thanks Doc.
Also has with regards to fingerboards... I have a bone figerboard oud and I would immagine that it can get a little dirty at times... Is peroxide good
to use on a inlaid bone fingerboard or do you suggest something else?
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Dr. Oud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1370
Registered: 12-18-2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, USA
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| Quote: | | Originally posted by SamirCanada... with regards to fingerboards... I have a bone figerboard oud and I would immagine that it can get a
little dirty at times... Is peroxide good to use on a inlaid bone fingerboard or do you suggest something else? |
Well peroxide would make it sterile and perhaps bleach it whiter, but to clean it you only need to rub it down with some fine steel wool (0000) and a
little alcohol, or any cleaner, or just the steel wool. Bone is so hard you don't need to worry about wear, if it's really bone - plastic will char
on contact with a hot pin (test an edge out of sight like behind the top nut). If it's plastic, it will wear and needs sanding to get it flat.
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