nick_s Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 My Les Paul Studio has a lacquered edge on the fretboard, so naturally when it comes to ebonising my fretboard, I will sand this nitro off. So, anyone who has done this, what grades did you successfully use, and did you have any issues with the dye taking to the granadillo (or which ever wood your board is)? Thanks in advance[thumbup] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I am curious what you mean by "ebonising the fretboard" ? Would you explain? I take it that you want to remove the existing fingerboard and replace it with any Ebony one? Or would this be another process? Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_s Posted October 8, 2013 Author Share Posted October 8, 2013 I am curious what you mean by "ebonising the fretboard" ? Would you explain? I take it that you want to remove the existing fingerboard and replace it with any Ebony one? Or would this be another process? Rod Hi Rod, In the briefest of nutshells, it is essentially dying the wood to make it darker (like ebony really), by way of dye or chemical reaction. It's for purely aesthetic reasons, as I am not keen on the colour of the granadillo board on my studio, and would prefer the look of a darker wood. I've had a quote to fit an ebony board with crown inlays of £200, so I figured I would dye mine first. I've seen some good results on here (and other forums) of the ebonising process, just looking for more insight on the project before I undertake it. I'm using my rosewood boarded Jackson as my test bed (it's my project guitar) before trying it on my studio :) Thanks, Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 My Les Paul Studio has a lacquered edge on the fretboard, so naturally when it comes to ebonising my fretboard, I will sand this nitro off. So, anyone who has done this, what grades did you successfully use, and did you have any issues with the dye taking to the granadillo (or which ever wood your board is)? Thanks in advance[thumbup] Just don't understand why you want to sand the finish off the fretboard edge. I don't think it is a good idea since it would leave a step at the seam to the neck. I am not that after looks. My Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess has the lightest-coloured among my rosewood fingerboards. It looks indeed ochre. Moreover, I rubbed the ebony dye off that of my Epiphone Les Paul 1960 Tribute since I had to deal with blackened fingertips. :o It still is the second-darkest rosewood boards of mine - only one of my MIM Strats has a darker one, very close to black and hardly to discern from ebony due to its fine, closed graining. It is very close to the Richlite fretboard of my SG Supra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_s Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 Just don't understand why you want to sand the finish off the fretboard edge. I don't think it is a good idea since it would leave a step at the seam to the neck. I am not that after looks. My Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess has the lightest-coloured among my rosewood fingerboards. It looks indeed ochre. Moreover, I rubbed the ebony dye off that of my Epiphone Les Paul 1960 Tribute since I had to deal with blackened fingertips. :o It still is the second-darkest rosewood boards of mine - only one of my MIM Strats has a darker one, very close to black and hardly to discern from ebony due to its fine, closed graining. It is very close ot the Richlite™ fretboard of my SG Supra. It'd look a little odd with a natural edge and blackened top :) I would relacquer the edge to reinstate the thickness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Thanks! Now I get it.....seems like a lot of work for a 'visual effect' But, "knock yourself out" and Good Luck with your project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_s Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 It is that's for sure! I've started the process on my Jackson in as much as I have destrung and stripped the fretboard of all gunge and grime that has accumulated over the last few years (it's been a gigbag queen for quite a while). I'll do a proper project thread on it, it's going to be a test bed for sure, with two different dye options being used to assess the best possible finish (indian ink and an analine dye). Worst comes to the worst, it can remain a gigbag queen, best outcome is it will have a lush black fretboard. If it fails spectacularly, the LP will be left well alone :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_s Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 OK, to keep the thread count to a minimum, I'll do the updates in here. So I started out a couple of days ago by stripping the board of any grime and gunk by using a diluted isopropyl alcohol and a light scrubbing using a dish sponge with a scouring side and the regular sponge. Below are a few shots showing the colour and condition of the board pre and post cleaning: Grime being removed: Grime be gone: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_s Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 So, the last of the above photos shows the fretboard after it had dried for a couple of days, as you can see it has a nice grain on the rosewood 19 years of aging on the maple: Strapped up ready to go: Weapon of choice: The plan was to do a few frets, let it dry and see how I liked the look. Using a light coat of the indian ink, I achieved the below, which I must admit I wasn't overly pleased with: So onto the aniline dye I went, which gave me nicer results straight away. So that is where I am at the moment. I've given it a couple hours inbetween coats, and am letting it dry thoroughly before dressing the board with some oil (probably linseed or maybe a beeswax, I'm currently undecided). A quick play after reassembly yielded pretty good results, no dye transfer and it doesn't feel any different to play. I'll update probably towards the end of the week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarzan13 Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 I'm going to do this to my Les Paul Jr. But I ordered Fiebings leather dye from Amazon Prime. It is the same stuff that Stew Mac sells for this type of job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_s Posted October 26, 2013 Author Share Posted October 26, 2013 I'm going to do this to my Les Paul Jr. But I ordered Fiebings leather dye from Amazon Prime. It is the same stuff that Stew Mac sells for this type of job. I was going that route myself, but wanted a more natural look, so am currently brewing some Iron Acetate, it's been going almost two weeks at the moment, looking lovely and black. Once it is brewed I'll add some tannin to the wood, then apply the Iron Acetate which will cause the chemical reaction to turn it black :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_s Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 Well my brew is pretty much complete, it'll be the weekend before I can attempt it (got to hate work at times) so fingers crossed! The mix is a very bizarre thing, little bits of steel wool have broken off where it has been dissolved in the vinegar, and the solution is a translucent black (bodes well!) and goes like coal when shook slightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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