What finish for necks?

U

UkieOkie

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2015
Messages
488
Reaction score
2
Hello guys. I'm about half way through making a cigar box Uke. What is a good and hopefully easy finish for the neck and such. I make knives and I always finish their handles with a good hard wax or oil finish. Is there a good brush or spray on I can get easily that will suffice? This is nuts goof around project but I would like it to hold up.


Thanks.

Trevor
 
Also, the fret board protrudes out onto the soundboard. What type of adhesive do you all recommend for affixing the fretboard to the soundboard?
 
I would think the TruOil finish would set you up nicely. It dries hard, goes on easy with a paper towel or rag, looks good and feels good on the neck.
For myself, I don't glue the fingerboard to the top
 
ok great. Thanks for the advice. So you just leave the fingerboard "floating" where it is over the soundboard. I was afraid of buzzing or something. Thanks again.
 
Ditto what Resoman said. Tru-oil is great stuff. Tung oil, dainish oil, wipe on poly are also good options. I don't glue my fingerboards either, never heard a buzz from it
 
UkieOkie said:
ok great. Thanks for the advice. So you just leave the fingerboard "floating" where it is over the soundboard. I was afraid of buzzing or something. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Titebond (original) is what many of us use with good success. Clamp it, wipe off the excess glue and you're good to go. Deft spray lacquer (available at most hardware stores) might be any easy alternative to your neck finish.
 
resoman said:
For myself, I don't glue the fingerboard to the top
Click to expand...

I know some people don't do this and I've always been curious as to why. I glue the thing down as extra insurance against neck movement and general stability. To me it seems that it isn't going to effect the top to glue it down... Oh, and a quick and dirty finish is always the over-priced but universally available Formby's Tung Oil. I've used the "mat" type rather than the "gloss" and gotten good effect with 5 or 6 coats and some buffing. Not bad actually, but not really to my taste. I'm a sucker for shiny. Can't beat it for quick and easy.
 
there are all kinds of finish requirements as your knife handles have taught you. i have finished different items with wax and oil, car wax, etc. you could do worse than a coat of boiled linseed oil followed by more coats down the road. you can wax over that if it grabs you. then you can bother to lacquer but hey, it's a cigar box uke.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Acquired Risa stick soprano or concert, natural finish
Replies
5
Views
240
PTRarch.
PTRarch.
K
Sold Kanile'a K-1 B Premium Curly Koa| Baritone Ukulele High Gloss Finish (FINAL PRICE $1100)
Replies
7
Views
1K
jopatm
jopatm
R
What's your finish preference?
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
Cornerstone
C
mineymole
Modern Martin S1 finish
Replies
17
Views
661
Pissodes
Pissodes
Kei
Headstock Finish Advice
Replies
8
Views
429
rustydusty
rustydusty
Top Bottom