Superglue wicking on Fretboard

[Ron Daves]

I used superglue on the ends of the frets I installed on a curley maple fretboard.  Any way to remove?

Would HHG have been a better idea?

[Robbie Collins]

Photos?

[Ron Daves]

Here's a pic

[Ron frazier]

Ron

Is the fingerboard finished or raw wood?

Ron

[Ron Daves]

Raw

[Robbie Collins]

You said "the ends of the frets." How about a closeup of the fret ends and more information on your procedure?

Is this a new fretboard or a refret?
Did you do the fretting?
Did you use thin or medium superglue in the slots prior to fretting or
Did you wick CA under the frets afterwards?
Perhaps you only used superglue on the fret ends to hold them down? 
Or maybe the fret tangs were clipped and left recessed below the edge of the fingerboard and you filled these depressions?

It really takes a hands-on visual inspection to give you an answer and, since that isn't possible, you need to show closeups of specific problem areas, give a thorough description of the problem, and tell how it happened so the experts here can sort it out.

[Ron Daves]

Is this a new fretboard or a refret?

It's new.  I was given a block of wood with bark on it and I rendered it down. 
Did you do the fretting?

Yes. Used Stewmac fretting blade.
Did you use thin or medium superglue in the slots prior to fretting or

Thin on one side.  Noticed staining. Thick on other side.  Still got staining., Used tiney pipett and dipped end in superglue, then applied droplets at ends of frets.
Did you wick CA under the frets afterwards?

Wicked it under the ends after fretting was done

Perhaps you only used superglue on the fret ends to hold them down? 

Yes
Or maybe the fret tangs were clipped and left recessed below the edge of the fingerboard and you filled these depressions?

No.  The fret ends popped up on a couple frets, so I clamped the board and applied droplets on the ends.

[Ron Daves]

"It really takes a hands-on visual inspection to give you an answer and, since that isn't possible, you need to show closeups of specific problem areas, give a thorough description of the problem, and tell how it happened so the experts here can sort it out".

Here's a close up of the side.

I rendered this fretboard out of a billet that was covered with bark.  This came of of the middle. 

I resawed with table saw, sanded with 220,

Marked fret locations from plans on fret board and used knife on edge to show me where to cut

Cut frets on tablesaw using sled together with a stewmac fret saw blade on yet to be tapered FB

Tapered FB and sanded sides

Hammered frets in with Stewmac fret hammer.

Turned fretted board on side, clamped ends of frets with strips of wood on both sides and 5 clamps,

Applied droplets of thin CA on one side, noted stains,swore alot

Clamped other side and applied droplets of thick CA. swor alot more

Would waxing have avoided the problem?  Seems like the problem is wicking from underneath. Don't know but seems like the glue would wick up under the wax...yes?  How about HHG glue? would that have avoided the problem.

This is a cigar box uke, so I'm not going to obsess over the stains.  If I can get rid of them, wunnerful, if not...oh well.

[Jelle van Tilburg]

Hello Ron, 

I'm guessing you used the bottle/tube of superglue to fill the ends or run superglue under the frets/ in the fretslots?  (or did you put a little superglue on the ends of the fretslot prior to installing them?). Because it's harder to control the bottle/tube, I use a tooth pick/or little sticks to apply superglue picked up from a puddle of superglue.

I'm sorry to say but if it's bare/unfinished wood (that wasn't sealed/waxed in any way) before applying the superglue, you're in trouble.

The only sollution in my opinion would be to carefully chisel and scrape/razor blade the superglue off the fingerboard. There's definately going to be staining left in the bare wood (so don't try to get all the discoloring off, you'll be digging too deep in the fingerboard). Check regularly (viewing in different light/side angle) to check your progress and just remove the superglue.

And hope when it comes to finishing (I don't know what you are planning to use as a finish for the neck?) that it doesn't show too badly.

Good luck, 

Jelle

[Ron Daves]

I'm guessing you used the bottle/tube of superglue to fill the ends or run superglue under the frets/ in the fretslots?  (or did you put a little superglue on the ends of the fretslot prior to installing them?). Because it's harder to control the bottle/tube, I use a tooth pick/or little sticks to apply superglue picked up from a puddle of superglue.

Tried pipetts.  Didn't work, so used pipette tip (about the size of a toothpick) to apply droplets.  Probably applied too much

I'm sorry to say but if it's bare/unfinished wood (that wasn't sealed/waxed in any way) before applying the superglue, you're in trouble.

Yep. No wax.

The only sollution in my opinion would be to carefully chisel and scrape/razor blade the superglue off the fingerboard. There's definately going to be staining left in the bare wood (so don't try to get all the discoloring off, you'll be digging too deep in the fingerboard). Check regularly (viewing in different light/side angle) to check your progress and just remove the superglue

Been scraping, sanding, erasing, spitting on eraser and erasing.  Stains still there but not quite as dark. Stains on side still there even after sanding. .

And hope when it comes to finishing (I don't know what you are planning to use as a finish for the neck?) that it doesn't show too badly.

Going to use brushing laq.  Will not finish FB except to was it.  May try a water-based stain as I have a stain powder kit.

Good luck, 

Thanks

RON

Jelle

[Mark Pollock]

So, this is unfinished, and the glue is showing.

My (probably a bad idea) inclination would be to wax the frets, and wipe the whole board with superglue to even out the tone. It might also harden the fretboard, which seems kind of porous. Again, I suspect this is a horrible idea, but maybe it will inspire something better.

Actually, you could pull the frets and finish the board in CA glue, which is actually quite nice.

I can' think of any way to clean it off that doesn't also raise the grain, which would then require pulling frets and re-sanding the board anyways.

[Ron frazier]

Good idea. a fingerboard of maple will get dirty and look worse than it is now. I would use thin super glue and put it in between each fret and do one space at a time and  wipe all off  fast or remove the frets and seal with glue and refret.

Ron

[Ron Daves]

Thought of painting FB with CA, but not sure that wouldn't add to the problem.

Since frets are glued in, pulling them might just make a mess.  But thanks for the idea.