Official Luthiers Forum!

I just finished spraying this week.I`m thinking about removing the tape from the fingerboard before the finish completely cures.I`ve always waited until complete cure.I`m thinking if I remove the tape and clean up the top of the board,I can touch up if need be and won`t have extra cure time.Does this make since or am I asking for trouble.I`m using 6000,so not a long cure time anyway.The customer has a gig coming up at the end of the month,and was hoping he could play it.

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I usually pulled the tape a couple hours after spraying.
It's not like the finish will creep.

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

What Todd said. If you wet sand your neck, your unfinished FB might take on a bit of water. I think we mostly try hard not to add water to necks.

Prior to finishing I file the frets flush to the sides, perpendicular to the fretboard face. I lay down the tape just inside of the edge of the fretboard. I leave the tape on until the full cure and then, using the angled file tool sold through StewMac I file the frets to their final 35 degree angle and go until the file barely cuts through the finish and into the fretboard along the edge. The end of the fretboard is dressed similarly with a hand file. Then the tape comes off leaving a pretty clean edge.

_________________
I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

I do it the same way as Stuart described. If you don't cut through the lacquer on the edge of the fingerboard, you may have areas of lacquer that stick to the tape & chip off the edge of the FB. Very frustrating!
Most times, I leave the tape on until the very end of the buffing / polishing stage.
You will be left with a thin line of finish on the top surface of the FB which is easily removed with careful application of a sharp exacto knife.

I`ve always done as Todd does.I have had an occasional chip out along the edge,when cleaning up the finish.This time I filed the ends with that 35 degree file like Stuart does,except I did it before taping and then taped just inside the edge of the board.I`m thinking I`ll hit it lightly with that file again to barely cut the finish after it cures and then pull off the tape.Hopefully this will eliminate any chipping.I was always afraid to file after the finish was applied.

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I'd be afraid too if I was using anything but that StewMac file. It holds the angle accurately and safely. If you take the frets down to the 35 degree angle after finishing it's kind of hard to make a pass that is too aggressive...since the fret material is coming off at the same time. The finish comes off a tiny bit at a time.

_________________
I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

I use KTM9. I pull the tape and do an initial level sanding after 2-3 days, depending on weather. I feel it is easier then than it is after it has gone to full cure.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust