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After just having made a Wenge fingerboard, with it ready to go on, I couldn't believe the size of the pores. So I just did a search about Wenge on the forum and got the full range of opinions & experiences - some love it, some hate it, some tolerate it but would prefer to use something else before it, some use it for back & sides, some use it for fretboards/bridges etc.

Well, I'm committed, and the guitar is for one of my sons, so if something unfortunate happens down the track, I can deal with it.

But I don't know what to do with the open pores on a fingerboard. Should I fill them or just leave them open?
I read posts on using med-thick CA. I already use Z-Poxy.
Can I add a black dye to either of these or should I just fill it clear, and then sand back to the wood?
I have already bound the fingerboard, so I need to keep filler out of the fret slots.

Thanks. Frank.

I have a very old EKO it was a 21st birthday present to a family friend who's in her fifties now and it was secondhand then! It has a wenge fingerboard and bridge with open pores the wood on the fingerboard is a black as ebony I'm assuming it's years of lemon oiling as when I've tried to clean it no dirt comes off with alcohol and then a reapplication of lemon oil so make of it what you may also the bridge has kept its wenge appearance though it's darkened.

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

Sounds pretty bad if you already cut the slots. Perhaps fill after fretting. One way would be to fill the slots with veneer strips. I imagine they should be easy to remove, unless you use CA!!

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Build log

I would just let it be. Fingerboards and any kind of treatment seem to lead to problems in my exp. Natural wood with an occasional oil rub tend to be best. The fingerboard will be exposed to a ton wear and tear over the years, and the wear will go far beneath any finish or pore-filling that you apply. Also, players secrete lots of oil and dirt from their fingers, which can lead to a reaction with any chemicals on the wood. On a side note, wenge makes pretty nice fretboards from what I have seen. Better on electrics than acoustics, not as good acoustic properties as some woods, and is hard to slot frets in due to splintering. I wish I'd listened to an OLF'er a while back who told me so.

[quote="Doug-Guitar-Buckler"]I would just let it be. quote]
This is my inclination for now. It looks good as is, despite the obvious pores.
Thanks. Frank.

The last 3 guitars I've made have Wenge fingerboards and bridges and I haven't had any issues with them at all.
Make the bridge pin holes parallel to the saddle to avoid potential splitting.
I weighed a EIR and a wenge bridge and the wenge was slightly lighter.
I haven't found that filling the pores on a bridge a fingerboard necessary since I'm not putting any finish on them.
There is a picture of one in the "whats happening in your shop" thread.

I agree with Peter .
Were all going to have to use alternative woods -real soon -unless your rich !
Wenge will be fine and get a great patina with age !

Mike

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Mike Collins

Thanks Mike and Peter - all of that is reassuring for two reasons. First, I have already gone down that path on the current guitar, but still need to make the bridge - guitar is presently curing. I will offset the bridge pin holes as suggested. I like the alternating black/brown grain of the wenge - it looks very nice under finish and 'raw'.

The second reason I am relieved is that I bought a big plank of quarter sawn wenge a few months ago - 10' of 8" x 2" for AUD$150 (approx US$100). For someone who makes about 2 guitars a year - that's a life time supply of fingerboards, bridges etc. While I had heard of people using wenge, it was a bit impulsive as I had not really done my homework, and wondered afterwards if I had wasted my money. It seems not.

I will put up some photos in a couple of weeks when it is all done.
Thanks again. Frank.

I have Wenge that is a chocolate & some with green lines in it !
It's a nice wood but with deep pores!

But it can crack easily if not treated carefully!!

I like it !!
mike

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Mike Collins