cukaracha Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 is there any substitute for a steam iron or any other way to remove the fretboard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acousticraft Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 You could pull out the frets remove the nut and plane it off. If it is a removable neck you may be able to bandsaw the bulk of the board off and plane the last little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cukaracha Posted June 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 i mean without hurting the neck or fretboard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setch Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 You can use a regualr iron, the steam isn't necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 You can use a regualr iron, the steam isn't necessary. In my experience, I have not been able to remove fingerboards without the steam option. How hot does the iron need to be before the glue starts loosening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setch Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Hot enough, but not too hot I have no idea of temp, just make sure that the wood isn't scorching, and work gently at the glueline with a very thin spatula or razor blade. I have never used steam, and I can't see how it would help. it isn't going to penetrate to the glue line, and fretboards are thin enough for the heat to be transmitted fine without steam. It just seems like an extra opportunity for warping the neck, and damaging the finish. YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Steam is actually the highest heat option on my iron. The lower heat option wont even loosen the glue for me. Also, I use aluminum foil over the neck when removing a fingerboard so that the moisture doesn't seep down into the neck. Heat + moisture = warped wood. So that's always under control. But at this point in time I should be investing in a heat blanket to keep from using such a crude tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cukaracha Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 so i can remove the fretboard with a normal iron.. but will the heat damage the frets?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 so i can remove the fretboard with a normal iron.. but will the heat damage the frets?? no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnydaze Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 I'm no expert, but I was able to remove the fretboard from a 30 plus year old Gibson SG fairly easy: Was trying the iron and it finally started to work, but very slow. Then I decided to just heat up the very thin paint scraper I was using to cut the heated glue line - so I just put the scraper over my gas stove top until it got pretty hot. The hot scraper went throught the glue line like butter. I woud cover about four inches and then need to be reheated. Don't overheat, or you'll scorch the wood. hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 I'm no expert, but I was able to remove the fretboard from a 30 plus year old Gibson SG fairly easy: Was trying the iron and it finally started to work, but very slow. Then I decided to just heat up the very thin paint scraper I was using to cut the heated glue line - so I just put the scraper over my gas stove top until it got pretty hot. The hot scraper went throught the glue line like butter. I woud cover about four inches and then need to be reheated. Don't overheat, or you'll scorch the wood. hope this helps. Sounds dangerous, but glad it worked for you I just pulled the fretboard off of my project guitar (most unfortunately) a few days ago, using the steam method, and it was easy as cake. I followed the instructions on the tutorial, and the neck and fretboard were fine, aside from having to sand all the excess glue off of the surfaces. I had no holdups there, I suggest you go ahead and use the iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cukaracha Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 how about using both methods? like heat the fretboard with the iron and work with the heated spatula/paint scrapper? or will that be too risky cause of excessive heat to the neck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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