@tv101

Lemon oil ? 🤷🏻‍♂️

🙂🎶🎸🙏

@tv101 you could try shellac. It s easy to apply, its easy to fix afterwards and it does not feel sticky. moreover, it works together well with almost  any other finishing and or coloring method.

Posted by: @russ

↑

Lemon oil ? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Happy to use that on the fretboard, but worried that it might get a bit too Lemon-y if I use it on the neck as well?

Posted by: @koendb

↑

you could try shellac. It s easy to apply, its easy to fix afterwards and it does not feel sticky. moreover, it works together well with almost  any other finishing and or coloring method.

Hmmmm.  I've had some good results with the Liberon Easy French Polish finishing product, on bodies.  I think that's like an easy-Shellac, ready-mixed in a tin, type of product.  I'm not going to colour the neck at all - it's got some of the streaky colours that you get in Ebony sometimes, and I just want to accentuate those really, plus give the neck a little protection from my sweaty paws.  

@tv101 You dont have to add color, you use the shellac more as a grain filler and protect the wood against moist, dirt, etc.
You dont need to make it a french polish finish either :-). It s an alternative to using oil ( boiled linseed or tung oil or something like that ) .

You could try on an off cut and see what works best ( oil, shellac, poly wipe on, .... )

@tv101 

What's the best finish to use on a solid Ebony neck? 

I was playing my #002 build today and really like the feel of the neck, its still smooth and clean. I had a look back through my build posts to see what I have put on it, but don't seem to have documented it. I'm fairly sure though that I finished it with Danish Oil, its not a totally clear finish, it maybe has a wee bit amber tint in it. Its worked well on my maple neck, not sure how it would look on ebony.

@tv101 

Ebony polish is what I use on violin fingerboard. It’s a brand called Old Wood and you don’t need much.

Is this is @rocknroller912?

@tv101 

Yes it can be pricey but works well. Rub in a small amount with a soft cloth. Good for ebony where hand sweat leaves a deposit over time as it’s mildly abrasive, but not so much to wear away the wood.

I quite like using thinned down oil based polyurethane varnish on necks, gives nice protection but feels superb. I use satin stuff.

I've heard ofusing boiled linseed oil etc but was advised to thin it down a bit, I've found oil can still feel a bit tacky a week after wiping on but apparently thinning it down fixes that.

Thanks guys.

From the comments, I learn that there are *many* possible best finishes!!

After the various suggestions, I ended up using ...

Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil.

Mainly because I found an unopened little bottle on a shelf! 

I remember wondering about it in the past, clearly I got past the wondering-stage and managed to get to the buying-stage, without ever reaching the using-stage.  I've just done the back of headstock for now - see how that dries before I do any more.

The fretboard will just get some Lemon Oil.

This neck is now shiny shiny

(shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather - points for spotting the lyrics)

That's totally dry now - the shine isn't because it's still wet!  And it feel so smooth in the hand.

Posted by: @tv101

↑

(shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather - points for spotting the lyrics)

Good old Velvets  @tv101. 

🙂🎶🎸🙏

All the points to @Russ

🍻

Thank you for sharing your ideas. Here I have learned a lot of things from this post and appreciate your innovative thinking.