Coloring a Maple fret board ??????

[William F.Eden]

 A coutomer has brought in an Old Regal arch top to be refreted and it has a Maple FB. on it I sanded it all off  and am now trying to dye it .Do any one of you know how to set the dye so it don't come off on your hands I am using color tone stain ? The customer don't want it laquerd.  Any idea's ? thanks Bill.....

[Scott Supak]

I've used Fiebings black oil dye from Stew-Mac to "ebonize" fretboards and bridges with good results. It's also great for restoring a uniform appearence after working on isolated areas such as fretboard ruts or chipped bridge pin holes.

Of course this only helps if your going for an ebony look. I don't know if other colors are available.

Be careful or this stuff will get everywhere and is really hard to remove once it sets.

Just ask me how I know...

 

[Kerry Krishna]

Scott brings up a great point. Did you want it black? 

 

[William F.Eden]

No the f.b was brown BILL..

[Mike Kolb]

So, the customer doesn't want a maple-colored fretboard and he doesn't want a black fretboard. He wants a brown fretboard... and he doesn't want a lacquer finish to protect the color. And he expects the new color to remain intact through the rigors of playing?

Sure sounds to me like the customer wants to pay for a nice new rosewood fretboard~:)

[William F.Eden]

O the plesures of the repair man.eh Mike. That's what you get repairing Vintage Insruments .they like to tie your hands and make life difacult for you. mabe in the next life I will try something else. I think I have just about got it figered out anyway thanks for your encougment though  I will keep you posted on the results. Bill.................

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

Mike made the point.