Tqi wrote:

AndrewTesta wrote:

You had one rule Tqi! Definitely an aggressive approach, I’m familiar with the chemicals, just not the reaction they create when mixed together. Interesting do you think they would still give the same result if I neutralized them first? I made sure to test on a scrap piece of pau beforehand in order to get the right mixture of lye/FeCl. I oiled the board immediately after wiping off any excess chemicals and it didn’t make a giant bar of Dove time will tell, but as of now it feels/plays normal and doesn’t seem to have dried out the fretboard at all. Thanks for the chemistry lesson brotha

Rules, shmules.

If you mixed them before hand, you'd get a solution of powdered rust you'd just be rubbing onto the surface. I don't think that'd work so well. I think the reason this works so great is that the reaction is happening essentially under the wood surface. The lye will very slightly degrade the wood, making it more porous, then the iron is formed in the holes. Hello darkness, my old friend!

I'm not an industrial chemist mind you, so take that with a pinch of powdered rust solution. I think after doing this (and before oiling) I'd rinse pretty heavily to try and get the salt product, plus any other trace reactants out. But I really don't expect you'll have any major issues. It's a cool hack!

The amount of soap produced would be proportional to the amount of lye left. So, trace amounts - and it'll work it's way out in time as oil goes on and off the fretboard.

Jack of all trades master of puns this is great! Here was my exact process after applying the FeCl, wiped off all excess with a wet towel, let dry, then applied an alcohol diluted tint which was then wiped off rather quickly with more alcohol. Then I proceeded with oil, I’ll let you know if anything changes brother. You’re the man

synchro wrote:

AndrewTesta wrote:

then applied an alcohol diluted tint which was then wiped off rather quickly with more alcohol.

You seem to be highly dependent upon alcohol to solve your fingerboard problems, do we need to stage an intervention?

I’m glad someone’s getting a taste Not a drop in 3 months with the baby on the way! Come December we’ll talk

Last edited: Aug 29, 2023 10:47:52

SixStringSurfer wrote:

Tqi wrote:

AndrewTesta wrote:

I sure did lol I’m not familiar with chemistry at all

Well, fun facts time.

Ferric Chloride is the stuff that's used to eat all the unwanted copper when making a PCB. It's a super dangerous acid!

Sodium Hydroxide is also called Lye. It's the stuff Tyler Durden uses in "Fight Club" to scar the main character, describing it as "the most pain a human can experience" or similar. It's a super dangerous alkali!

Essentially what you've done here is an extremely hardcore version of a baking soda volcano. Only instead of sodium acetate as a byproduct, you've made goethite - or in other words, rust. (also, some table salt!) And since this form of rust is a dark reddish-brown...

I was slightly surprised by the order of play here, since this way the colour won't have penetrated deeply, but lye will also react with fats - so this method probably makes sure that it doesn't get blocked by oils in the fretboard. This should also mean that it's pretty safe in the long run, as long as you have more lye than FeCl - any extra lye will react with fretboard oil to form soap.

Bonus, mixing any spare Lye with vinegar and the FeCl with baking soda will neutralise them into safe byproducts. However, these reactions are really potentially dangerous to perform, so if you have a safer method of disposal I'd do that first. For the lye, you could also try getting some olive oil and making soap?

Great post, way above my head though. Again, all this sounds super dangerous. I would be concerned about my eyes more than anything.

Caution labels on both bottles just say to flush eyes with water if there’s any contact. Wash clothing if any gets on you, wash skin etc. The lye is probably the worst of it I imagine after watching fight club but with gloves and using a gentle hand it was a breeze. It’s essentially drain cleaner like piranha, when mixed with water. But I’m still considering that side hustle

Last edited: Aug 29, 2023 12:48:35

synchro wrote:

Safety glasses are always fashionable.

Love to see you write this, I hope you don't mind if I steal it. I always, always wear safety glasses when doing yard work, putting chemicals in the pool, etc... I take care of my eyes much better than I take care of my ears!

MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.

AndrewTesta wrote:

Proud of the result, felt like sharing
Saw a guy on YouTube apply a chemical reaction with ebony tint to his fretboard which stained it indefinitely. I probably could’ve gotten away with not using the tint considering the reaction did 90% of the darkening But I put some on anyway for good measure. Played her for an hour immediately after polishing and it hasn’t bled at all.
SUCCESS..for now

Hi! First time commenting here. I am planning to do this but is there any update on this? A 1+ year update on the fretboard would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

For anybody looking to darken up their fretboard(s), I heartily recommend this product.

https://www.montysguitars.com/en-us/products/montys-montypresso-relic-wax

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Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

IceratzSurf wrote:

Hey I am totally interested in this product and ready to buy it.
I found a source on ebay.

Just wondering, I have already treated my Pau Ferro fretboard with only lemon oil. So it's still very porous.
And it does dry back out.
Will this Wax still penetrate?

I had zero problems using this on a pao ferro board I previously treated with mineral oil (which is lemon oil without the lemon-fresh scent). Of course I can't speak to your specific guitar, but I can say I don't THINK you'll have any problems!

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Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

IceratzSurf, I am interested in this product as well. Please post before and after photos of your guitar if possible.

MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.