Smoothing/rounding/scr@ping a Fretboard

[Ribboz]

Well, Im considering working on my neck. This neck is the same one Ive talked about in my last few posts. Being maple/maple with the finish placed last warmoth doesn't round the edges of the fretboard. Compared to their unfinished boards, those are rounded(I think) and alot more comfy. So I dont mind it if looks a bit worn after the work but some ideas would be great. I want to scr@pe the edge of the fretboard (as suhr puts it, as in scr@ping) cause those guitars feel great. I wanna give this neck a very worn in feel, without 30 years of playing XD

[Afghan Dave]

I'm gonna get ATTACKED by Feline & Wez but I read on a strat forum that the best way to do this on a maple/maple neck is NOT to scr@pe with a blade but use a large diameter round metal socket to compress the fibres of the wood at the fingerboard edges, pressing and rolling & rounding it off but keeping the finish intact...

Now I take NO responsibility for this info but I have done it on a cheap maple neck and it worked out fine...

Flame away guys....  :(

[Philly Q]

I doubt that's the best way, but on a finished maple board it's the only way to do it without removing the finish on the edges of the board.   I'd have thought it must be creating small cracks in the finish, though, even if they're not immediately obvious.

Scr@ping or sanding the edges must be better than just crushing the wood fibres, if the finish isn't an issue.

[Ribboz]

Hmm, the crushing idea is a neat idea. But, I would be afraid of possible side-affects. I wouldnt mind doing some sanding or scr@ping.   

[WezV]

I'm gonna get ATTACKED by Feline & Wez but I read on a strat forum that the best way to do this on a maple/maple neck is NOT to scr@pe with a blade but use a large diameter round metal socket to compress the fibres of the wood at the fingerboard edges, pressing and rolling & rounding it off but keeping the finish intact...

no such thing as a wrong way, i am sure that works well for some, sanding works well for others and i like to scr@pe as i showed in this tutorial

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=18062.0

[Ribboz]

Yes Yes! That is just what I was looking for! Thank you :)

Oh quick question, did you refinish the neck or anything after you rounded the fretboad?
Im gonna be doing this to a glossy finished neck, and wonder how bad this might end.

[Afghan Dave]

You've all been so gentle with me...  :)

Thank you.

[Philly Q]

I still haven't got over my fear of razor blades (or my fear of lopping big chunks out of the fretboard).

I'n going to try it with sandpaper first, though I know it'll be much slower.

[Ribboz]

Lets say which of these options would you all say is best.(Your opinion is fine and appreciated)

Well I could just try scr@ping the edges like Wez's tutorial BUT, on a glossy finished maple neck.

OR, dare I say it, but sand it all down(removing all the finish) maybe even reshape(lightly) the back contour of the neck. Using some sand paper and following other tutorials for that.(yeah thats fine) and then scr@ping like Wez showed and applying some oil finish.

Remember its Flame maple, and I would like to preserve some of the beauty of the flame, so how is oil finish on flame neck? and or the first option and just scr@pe the edges?

[Philly Q]

I would follow whatever advice Wez gives, but for my two-penn'orth, if you do strip the neck and oil it the flame will come through just fine.

[Ribboz]

Another quick question. Im enjoying the feel of ebony more than glossy maple for the fretboard. How does Oiled maple feel? does it have a bit more grip than the glossy did. Is it sorta like the feel of ebony?

[WezV]

be more carefull scr@ping the edges of a flamed maple neck.. it should be fine but grain direction may make the results less predictable if you dont know how to control for that - its all in the feel


i love the feel of oiled maple necks and something like tru-oil would keep it looking pretty nice.  it feels smooth and sleek but not quite as fast as ebony does

i feel that with either method you are going to loose the lacquer on the edges... even if it doesnt fall rigth off with squashing it will have weakened its bond so it will come off sooner or later, depending on the type of finish of course

[Ribboz]

Well, Im gonna think about it.
Im going to do a bit more research and consider my options.

Honestly, all this talk about stripping, reshaping, and refinishing has gotten me all excited about the project :D

Thank you everyone for your replies, and thank you Wez for the link to your tutorial and help. :D