I am trying to figure out the best way to stabilize my fingerboard. The fingerboard is bloodwood with cherry binding, and a thin walnut accent on the back. It is tapered and slotted, but not glued to the neck.
What is the best method and product for stabilizing it, and how can i prevent the stabilizer from getting into the fret slots? Will the stabilizers mess with the wood color at all? Would they help preserve the color of the fingerboard? What grit should the board be sanded to before i try and stabilize it? any other tips?

Also, i don't think i want to put dots into the fb, but i got an idea to engrave at the 12th fret. So far, I think it would go something like this: lay down some masking tape, draw what i will engrave, engrave it with the dremel, take some black spray paint and spray it, let it dry, and remove the tape. Would this work well? I have not seen any engraved fingerboards, and thought it might be cool. any reason why it is a bad idea? what would you do differently?

What are you refering to by "stabilizing" the wood?

the stabilizing process is performed on rough lumber, long before you have shaped and slotted your fretboard. I'm quite certain the process would fill all your fret slots

here's an interesting read from a post Larry Davis made about three years ago (and a reminder as to just how much I miss the GH sponsored forum :( )

http://talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2800818&postcount=11

all the best,

R

I just ment going over it with some thin epoxy or supper glue or something, with maybe a razor blade, so it goes into the wood. The bloodwood is quarter sawn, and from a reliable source (GH) so there is not much of a stability factor behind my curiosity in the matter. It manly relates back to engraving the fingerboard. I thought it would have less risk of chipping out.
I think i will forget the the stabilizing issue for this build, but i want to try it on the fretless i am planing, so it would be good if someone had a favored glue/epoxy and method of soaking it into the wood. I see it done on tops quite often, and thought it could only help a fingerboard.

Still curious on engraving the fb and painting it black. I really don't want the color to bleed into the wood surrounding the engraving. What would you recommend on the matter? I think i will engrave the side markers too, rather than inlay, but i want to get the plan sorted out, just in case it is a bad one.