What is Ebanol?

[fretless_guy]

Does anyone know what ebanol is? I know it's a synthetic (probably polymer based) material that is used increasingly on fingerboards. But what is it? I know a little about polymer materials, and there isn't a family of polymers called ebanol, nor can I find it as a trade name for a type of plastic produced by one of the big polymer resin manufacturers. I'm guessing that it got "re-named" by the instrument making industry so that people might think it was actually meant to replace ebony. For someone looking to buy some for a home project, what exactly should they be looking for?

[waseok]

http://www.chemblink.com/products/67801-20-1.htm
Use google dude

[Hambone]

black phenolic...

[fretless_guy]

I thought it was really phenolic, but I wasn't sure. Do you happen to know if it is a composite (phenolic resin with some sort of reinforcement material like paper or wood fiber) or if it is pure phenolic?

[abarson]

I'm using an ebanol fingerboard on my first build, and I found out the hard way that although it is very hard, it is also brittle. Don't try to flex or bend the stuff, or it will snap. Luckily, this happened on a reject, but it made me cautious thereafter.
I'll let you know how it goes to apply epoxy on it, although it's probably not necessary. I just want it shiny!

[Hambone]

Originally Posted by abarson

I'm using an ebanol fingerboard on my first build, and I found out the hard way that although it is very hard, it is also brittle. Don't try to flex or bend the stuff, or it will snap. Luckily, this happened on a reject, but it made me cautious thereafter.
I'll let you know how it goes to apply epoxy on it, although it's probably not necessary. I just want it shiny!

You can polish phenolic and you won't need an epoxy coating. Besides, the epoxy is softer than the ebanol would be. Just sand through to about 600 grit and then begin your polishing compounds.

Ebonal doesn't have the fiber reinforcement that other phenolic sheets have but that shouldn't have a bearing one way or another. I've used paper based phenolic board as easily as I have the solid stuff.

[pilotjones]

Originally Posted by waseok

http://www.chemblink.com/products/67801-20-1.htm
Use google dude

Witth a little further googling, it seems that this "ebanol" is a liquid scenting (sandalwood odor) product. Dude. See: http://www.leffingwell.com/chirality/ebanol.htm

[bppubjr]

Try e-b-O-n-o-l (from e-b-O-n-y). I got plenty of hits that way.