Removing the fretboard on my Les Paul

[Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars]

Removing the fretboard and trussrod:

[Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars]

[daveq]

That must have made you a bit nervous but it looks like it came out clean, yes?

I don't know how you walk around in that shop!!

Mine's pretty cluttered also - all it takes is about 15 min. and it looks like a war broke out.

[westhemann]

yeah i have to clean my area up when i want to do my work....i find i have more patience and attention to detail if it is clean

but it gets messy SOOO quick!

[CaptMysterio]

for the fb removal, how hot was the iron? or does it even matter?

[westhemann]

i have never done that but glue joints fail at summer temperatures inside cars around here

that is about 150 degrees farenheit btw

[Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars]

Very nervous. The shop is a freaking disaster area and losing battle.

Any who, the iron was on max with full steam. I was on edge with full patience

[keithb]

On fretboard removal:

I recently took the FB off an old Washburn bass to see if there was anything that could be done to fix the broken truss rod and warped neck (no way....not worth the effort).

The fretboard came off no problem with my clothes iron on the second-highest steam setting, with some careful application of a razor blade, sharp pocket knife, and about 2.5 hours of time.

[Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars]

2 and 1/2 hours? wow, I did mine in 20 minutes. I guess the higher steam helps...and that I have done it a few times .

[daveq]

I've removed several fretboards (my least favorite thing to do). Some of them come off quickly (15 to 20 minutes), some take longer. In my experience, getting it started is what takes the longest. Trying to get the razor blade under the fretboard can take a while. If you ever remove a fretboard with a locking nut rout, take your time at the end. The wood is so thin in that area that it pays off to steam it for a while and go very slow. I always use the highest setting on my iron.

[litchfield]

Also here's a no brainer, but I still did it. DO NOT TOUCH THE FRETS! I now have a scar on m,y left palm perfectly straight about an inch long. Nice string of expletives. Be careful here. Do you really think I meant to?

[Dr. Jabsco]

so you just put old cloths ontop of the board, and steam over that?

And will the expanding of the frets cause the FB to bow? or is there so little that it dosnt make a difference.

PS, litch.. I have that same rock city hat