finish guitar neck (back) before gluing fret board?

is it ideal to finish the back prior to putting on a fretboard?

anyone?

I have not yet made a neck but from all the neck tutorials I have seen on this Forum, I would say wait until the neck is completed before applying a finish.

thanks

I think it's easier to glue on the fingerboard before I even shape the back of the neck, let alone finish it. Plus, you probably want the finish to go past the glue joint.

is it ideal to finish the back prior to putting on a fretboard?

First Neck?

I glue the fingerboard on, fret the fretboard, shape the back of the neck and then when it is all done... I apply finish.

I don't make my own necks, but I spray them. If the question stems from getting finish on the edge of the board, (i.e. rosewood) I don't worry about it. Not sure how production guitars are done (mask edges, etc) it's been a while since I've owned or even held one.

The sides of the rosewood are generally finished so the board needs to be glues on first so that the finish can lap from the maple (or whatever) onto the sides of the fingerboard.