MIMF

Hi.
I have just been entertaining myself removing a fretboard from a neck with heat vinegar and a putty knife...with a view to re-using both.

I've yet to completely clean up the gluing surfaces ready for the next iteration.

Having got all the titebond residue off the surfaces and lightly sanding etc etc do I need to neutralise the vinegar residue with soapy water or baking soda - or anything?

Where's the end point?

(I don't do this a lot) )

Thanks,
Rob.

If a lot of the vinegar soaked into the wood then a little baking soda wouldn't hurt and would definitely neutralize the acid. However, you would need to apply it with a little water and make it into a paste.

A word of warning, make sure your putty/ palette knives are stainless steel or you will create Black mineral stains in the wood from the acidic vinegar oxidizing plain steel.

I just wash the vinegar off with plenty of water, towel dry then let finish drying before gluing. That has always worked for me. As mentioned use stainless.