See NEXT PAGE for Playing Test Results >>>
1953 Valco El Grande Steel Guitar
Customer's Work Progress Reports

~ Page 16;  Protecting the Fretboard During Refinishing ~

This Page Under Construction
See NEXT PAGE for Playing Test Results >>>
Besides the clear primer and top coats securing the checked finish upon which the fretboard was silk-screened, it was also clear finished so that the fretboard could be masked-off for refinishing the entire Steel;  Otherwise the silkscreening and finish under it could be pulled up when removing such masking tape.  But there is also one more precautionary preparation that must be done to protect the finterboard:

A steel dead-straight edge must be C-clamped onto the fretboard with 3 C-clamps ...2 near the ends of the fretboard and one in the middle (plastic clamp shown here for illustration), ....aligning the steel straight edge exactly along the edge of the fretboard silkscreening, ....and using a protective backing of wood so the clamps don't scar the back of the guitar (cardboard used here for illustration) ....and a sheet of wax paper between the steel edge and the fingerboard to keep the steel from sticking to the fretboard finish.  A razor knife is then used to cut a line THROUGH the finish along the side and back edges of the fretboard, so that when sanding the old finish off it won't pull off or damage the silkscreening and / or the checked finish under the fretboard.  When the razor knife reaches one clamp then that clamp can be moved an inch or-so to a place that's already been cut, since 2 other clamps secure the work while 1 clamp is moved.  -------  The steel straight edge is also kept in place during sanding to fence / protect the edges of the fretboard during sanding.