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Hi

I've been making the neck and headblock for my guitar and its going ok so far but I've noticed that the mahogany seems to get blackened whilst using the fine rasp on the end grain (ie round the top of the headstock , inside the slot in the headblock and the chamfers on the headblock )

Is this normal ? more importantly is it fixable ?

Thanks

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Richard

Is the wood actually colored, or is it just a rough, torn surface that isn't reflecting light? I've often noticed end grain looking much darker after using a rough file, and then looking lighter after sanding the surface smoother.

Otherwise, what ToodStock said...

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

it happened to me once and i used sand paper instead in that area.

Thanks for thre replies.

The rasp is clean and as I said the darkening only appears on end grain. I think I'll try sanding first and then try and post some photos if that doesn't help.

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Richard

Mahogany has a tendency to do what I believe you're describing on the endgrain even when sanding.
Nelson

Couldn't realy get it to come out in photos ( cheapo camera ) but sanding to 120 grit seems to have improved things a bit its now lighter and more even. I'm hoping (optimisticaly maybe )that with further sanding before finishing it will be solved - it realy does seem to be an effect of the grain orientation rather than staining from the tools.

On a more positive note I managed to bend my sides on Sunday without any mishaps so thats one less thing to worry about

Cachalote39055.4616319444

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Richard