I'm by no means a master luthier, but I've built 2 necks with no tension problems as follows...Gearhead wrote: I reckon fretting a board puts tho top of it in a fair bit of tension, so it won't stay straight - depending on this and that. There's not that many drawbacks of gluing first; this does not restrict access for tools etc so rather put it together first.
1. dimension fretboard
2. cut fret slots
3. glue onto neck, trim edges, etc.
4. radius (I've done this by eye/feel, super-sharp plane and scraper, and lots of patience. A router & jig may be more accurate, but a handjob (sorry) allows you to taper the radius as you please)
5. tap in fretwire, file, crown etc.
Fretting the fretbord off the neck can tend to bow the fretboard (esp if your slots are fractionally too narrow - which is preferable to slots too wide) and then make gluing onto the neck more difficult.. and at this point there is no room for error)