Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi everyone - simple question -

I have a walnut fingerboard - what finish do I put on it ? should I just seal it with shellac ? that would be easy since I am French polishing now -

anything else to put on it ?



thanks in advance !

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

I'd leave it raw.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Walnut oil ?

I think walnut may be a bit soft for a fretboard, especially if left unfinished. I would most likely finish with a few coats of medium CA.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Really I've used walnut oil on lighter colored rosewood fingerboards, and it's nice to pre-darken the wood so it doesn't look splotchy as it absorbs finger oil in the more played areas.

I use walnut fingerboards on my dulcimers, and finish them with Tried and True original wood finish. It is an oil finish, you apply in very thin coats. Neat stuff, super easy, and looks and feels fantastic.

Not sure how well it will hold up on a guitar, since the finger pressure on a dulcimer is much less, but this is something so easy to use for great results. i got it at my local WoodCraft store. It was recommended by a fellow who uses it exclusively as a finish on his hammered dulcimers. I've not finished an entire instrument with it yet, but have used it on bones, and can say the stuff is pretty tough.

Also, as an oil finish, it is easy to reaply if necessary.

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Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

I used Walnut on a Nylon strung fretboard. Grooves appeared in very little time. As it was a waste wood Guitar I ended up replacing it with Oak, dyed Black. I'd be tempted to go with the CA suggestion.

I too am making a nylon string - it is mostly for me and the amount of playing I get is not much - and when I play - it is not with a gorilla grip. It is my entry for the OLF challenge, so it is local woods -

I'll try the walnut oil - does it need time to dry ? I plan to fret then polish it off with walnut oil - but I need to record right afterwards - all on the due date !

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

I used tung oil on my walnut fb for the challenge.
Lap steel though.