I darkened my rosewood fretboard on my RG2820

sandman99 · #1 03-17-2007, 10:07 AM

I have for a long time looking in a way to darken the fretboard on my RG2820, it was very light. Now finally after reading in different forums I have find out how to do. The result almost looks like an ebony board, and it looks far much better then what the pictures can show.

This is what i used:
Fiebing's Professional Dying Oil
Lemon oil

Before:

After:

How did I do?
I started to mask all areas that not should have the oil on it, mask very carefully, the wood sucks in the oil very quickly, and I don't think you can remove it.

Then I used cotton pins to apply the oil, I applied the oil to 4 frets at each time, then I waited for one or two minutes for the oil to sink in. After that I used a rag to rub it off, rub until the rag not will be colored any longer. Repeat until you have done the entire fretboard.

Then i removed the mask and applied lemon oil, I'm very happy with the result.

Edit:

I went out and took a some new pictures, those show the result even better!

Dee · #2 03-17-2007, 10:30 AM

Looks great.

Rocker1 · #3 03-17-2007, 10:38 AM

It goes really nicely with the vine inlay

MetalZone · #4 03-17-2007, 11:08 AM

Nice job! Did you actually manually mask all the vine parts?

S-man · #5 03-17-2007, 11:10 AM

I don't think the dye will absorb into the inlay. Besides, It should be a wipe on, wipe off type of thing.

sandman99 · #6 03-17-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalZone

Nice job! Did you actually manually mask all the vine parts?

No i didn't mask the inlays, they where colored a little bit, but that was easy to remove with a cotton stick and alcohol.

/sandman

**Ayrton** · #7 03-17-2007, 11:35 AM

Looks great!

Furniture scratch remover works well and is not as harsh as dye.

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59669

eelblack2 · #8 03-17-2007, 01:04 PM

Well done looks great!

sugizo_esp · #9 03-17-2007, 01:45 PM

looks really cool now

buddroyce · #10 03-17-2007, 02:28 PM

Nicely done!

mi2tom · #11 03-19-2007, 03:01 AM

Good job!

TongueShredder · #12 03-19-2007, 04:55 AM

Wow it looks great. Thanks for sharing. I have to try this....

sandman99 · #13 03-20-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TongueShredder

Wow it looks great. Thanks for sharing. I have to try this....

Yes I'm very happy with the result, and I'm just glad to share this with you all.
So if there is anyone else who is trying this, please post some pictures of your work.

GTR-MAN · #14 03-20-2007, 04:59 PM

I don't like it. Even though it's dark it doesn't look like ebony. Ebony isn't as porus as rosewood, so to me that just looks like stained rosewood. You had a nice quality rosewood to start with, it's a shame that you did that.

That's just my opinion of course. As long as you are happy with it that's all that matters. Nice axe anyway.

By the way, lemon oil is better for furniture. It dries out too quickly and can be corrosive. Go with some Bore oil or Fret Doctor instead, they're better for your wood than lemon oil and will help with that dark look you are going for.

sandman99 · #15 03-20-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTR-MAN

I don't like it. Even though it's dark it doesn't look like ebony. Ebony isn't as porus as rosewood, so to me that just looks like stained rosewood. You had a nice quality rosewood to start with, it's a shame that you did that.

That's just my opinion of course. As long as you are happy with it that's all that matters. Nice axe anyway.

By the way, lemon oil is better for furniture. It dries out too quickly and can be corrosive. Go with some Bore oil or Fret Doctor instead, they're better for your wood than lemon oil and will help with that dark look you are going for.

Ok, well I like it because it look IMO alot better than that bright rosewood fingerboard that I had. I have never liked it, but now I love it

I know how ebony looks like, I have an RG8670 with an ebony board, and I'm aware about that rosewood is not close to ebony in density.

But after the dying of the rosewoodboard I'm happy with the result, and I think that it's many with me who wants the same thing.