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My first bound fretboard, is bound with quilted maple binding. I the ebony fretboard was profiled prior to installing the bindings, but I just gave it a final sand with 800grit prior to installing the frets, and the binding turned grey. I tried wiping it down with a clean damp cloth... tried a little naptha.. it still has a dingy look to it.

Any secrets for preventing this? I'm guessing maybe I should have put a wash of shellac or something on the bindings prior to installing them?

Oh, and I also didn't think to file the slots for the fret gussets prior to installing the bindings. It would have been much easier had I done it prior to installing the bindings.

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Jim Hansen

Scrape, don't sand, and then paint on a little bit of shellac.

Sand all the way up to 2000 (smaller scratches for the ebony dust to collect in) or try blowing the maple clean with compressed air after another light sanding at 800. You'd be amazed at what comes out with a shot of compressed air.

I also put maple purflings on my fretboards and maple marker dots as well. I experienced the same thing you have when I went down to polish the fretboard prior to installing frets. All the maple on the fretboard turned grey!

I scraped and then sealed with two coats of thin CA on all the maple stuff. After that all was fine.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)