Another neck finishing question

[HueyFreeman]

I have a unfinished roasted maple neck with rosewood board. My plan was to burnish the neck and leave it unfinished but have since decided that I'd like a light finish to prevent oils from my fretting hand getting into the wood over time. I have a bit of Tru-Oil left over and was gonna hit the neck with it. Just 1 or 2 coats.

Is taping the rosewood enough to keep the oil from penetrating into it?

Obversely, can the rosewood be hit with a coat or two as well?

Thank in advance.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Taping the edge of the board and some care in application should be enough to keep the TruOil off of the fretboard but some TruOil isn't going to hurt the fretboard either. I use that or boiled linseed oil on fretboards all the time.

 

[HueyFreeman]

I use that or boiled linseed oil on fretboards all the time.

Does this include rosewood fretboards?

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Does this include rosewood fretboards?

Yes. I prefer either of those options to "lemon oil" which in most cases is just mineral oil with a lemon scent and doesn't seal or do much of anything for a fretboard. The only time I wouldn't use one of those oils is on a fretboard that already has a thick finish on it like most maple fretboards or Rickenbacker.

 

[HueyFreeman]

Yes. I prefer either of those options to "lemon oil" which in most cases is just mineral oil with a lemon scent and doesn't seal or do much of anything for a fretboard. The only time I wouldn't use one of those oils is on a fretboard that already has a thick finish on it like most maple fretboards or Rickenbacker.

Thanks Matt.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Thanks Matt.

Happy to help. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[HueyFreeman]

Happy to help. Let us know how it turns out.

Neck turned out great. 4 coats TruOil on the neck and two on board, then burnished the neck. Smooth AF. Love it.

Next time, however, I'm gonna burnish first, then oil.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

View attachment 7200209

Neck turned out great. 4 coats TruOil on the neck and two on board, then burnished the neck. Smooth AF. Love it.

Next time, however, I'm gonna burnish first, then oil.

Looks good. Congrats.