Fingerboard finish...

Triad · #1 05-17-2008, 05:36 PM

Hi guys! I have a question for you.
I use to finish my basses with Danish Oil and I usually finish the fingerboard of both fretted and fretless instruments with a light coat of the same oil just to make the wood look "finished" but without putting a lot of product on it.
A couple of days ago I finally receive two cans of Waterlox. I never used it but I guess it will give me a harder finish. Anyone here used it on fingerboards (expecially fretless)? How hard this stuff becomes? Would it stand the roundwounds wear or it would get badly worn in a couple of weeks? Does this stuff make a finish "harder than wood"?

SDB Guitars · #2 05-19-2008, 02:55 PM

It's a tung oil varnish, but I hear tell that it is about as durable as lacquer...

Triad · #3 05-19-2008, 03:47 PM

Yes, it what I've heard. I guess I'll have to try if I want to know how it works...

62bass · #4 05-19-2008, 07:53 PM

It's much tougher than the usual Danish oil products. It will eventually still show wear on a fretless fingerboard. I used epoxy on one fretless fingerboard and it wore when using roundwound strings.

But, Waterlox is great stuff. Did you get the Original Sealer/Finish?

Triad · #5 05-20-2008, 03:24 AM

Yes. I plan to use it on the couple of basses I'm building (look at my thread "A small, cute fretless for myself")

62bass · #6 05-20-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triad

Yes. I plan to use it on the couple of basses I'm building (look at my thread "A small, cute fretless for myself")

Great. I just looked at your small cute fretless. I like it. Let us know how you like the Waterlox. Don't waste a drop of it. It's expensive. I like to soak on a heavy first coat, keep it wet for at least 20 minutes, then wipe off all the residue. It really seals the wood well and brings out the grain more.

Triad · #7 05-20-2008, 07:50 AM

I'm just using it on the fretted twin of that fretless...
It really has the same "effect" of the Danish Oil I usually use BUT...
It stinks pretty bad and if you get your hands dirty you can't really wash it away.
I'm putting the first coat in a clean garage with two large windows open to keep air flowing. We'll see how it looks after a couple of thin coats. I'm glad to read that you like that bass... I didn't complete it only 'cause I'm waiting for the pickup.