Acceptable Amount Excess Board When Trimming Fingers

[Jeremiah]

I’ve only trimmed gold fingers once with a sawzall but I kept cutting into the gold in order to keep the trim accurate. Since then I’ve accumulated about a 50 gallon tote of finger cards that need trimmed. I’m thinking of using a 2x4 or metal plating to keep the edge straight this go around but was wondering what amount of excess may be left while still commanding the higher price. I was thinking 1/16th an inch?

[BarrenRealms007]

Cut or break them as close as possible. If you have a vise you can break the fingers off with it. A pair of pliers works. Hand shears work. There are other cutters that you can use. But please don't use the sawsall again, that's an accident waiting to happen.

[ScrapYaHerd]

I like side cutters/dikes for finger removal, don't make it harder than it is. Just trim them at the bottom that is what is acceptable.

[drozenski]

I have had good success with a dremal and the cheaper thin cut off wheels.

[Bear]

I have had good success with a dremal and the cheaper thin cut off wheels.

and as usual, don't try this at home kiddoes, but if you do (yeah, i knew you all would anyway!) always wear your glasses ; )

[eesakiwi]

I'd score one side at least with a box cutter where you want it to crack. & then use the vice jaws, or make up a jig with a slot in it to snap them off with.

What I have noticed is that most fingerboards seem to have a row or two of 'thru hole plating' holes about 2 or 3mm away from the edge of the gold fingers, the holes seem to have a gold plating right thru it.
I'm thinking that it would be good to break the board thru the holes & that would expose the 'thru hole plating', so the gold inside them can fall off when they are acid washed.