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I am preparing to send my first steel string out to be finished. I do not have clear information on how to handle the area on the guitar body that the fretboard covers. I am assuming that the finish must be removed from this area before the fretboard extension is glued down. I see that some folks mask off that area before finishing and others do not. If you do not mask off this area, how is the finish removed? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

Thanks,

Eddielee

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EddieLee

re: routing off
The kitchen plastic wrap I have here is just about .001" thick. I think my aluminum foil is about .005"...maybe a touch more. You can combine layers on the bottom of your router base, punch a hole in the middle, put the router on a flat surface and then just set the router height with the bit sitting flush, you can very quickly get a pretty precise depth.

If you decide to mask off, check with your finisher and make sure whatever you are using to mask is compatible with the finish.

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Brian

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

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I prefer to just spray the whole dang thing, then locate the fingerboard extension and bridge, scribe and chisel off.

My finish (oil varnish) sticks really well, but after I get most off, I start scraping till I get down to bare wood.

No set-up, and the resuly is clean.

I have seen at least one bridge (not mine) that was masked and the the bridge pulled off (clean) after about a year. I always suspected that it was the maksing tape stick-um that may have been the perp.

BUT, many, if not most builders do it this way.

My last 2 used the frisket film http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/9-x-12-matte-extra-tack-prepared-frisket-film-129791/ as suggested in a past topic and love the results, it is much thinner than making tape and after scoring the edges pulled up real easy and clean. I left it on the whole time through finish, curing, level sanding and buffing about 6 weeks and it was no problem removing. As suggested above check with your finisher to see what he prefers. I don't have that issue as I am a believer in building the entire guitar myself so do my own finishing.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Scrape ?! I just use paint stripper, much easier. Apply to edges of scored outline with a artists brush. 2 minute job. I suppose masking is probably the best method tho.

peter

Thanks - Great info

EddieLee

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EddieLee