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Should I trim my fretboard profile to shape before or after sticking it to the neck? The directions for my stewmac kit say to cut it on a bandsaw and trim with a shooting board, but I only have a saber saw and I didn't trust myself or the saw enough to cut right down to the line, and I am afraid of leaving thin spots if I sand it. Should I just stick with sanding with a shooting board and spend all day on it, or would it be better for me to glue it on the neck and sand that way?

I cut with a coping saw close to the line, clamp vertically, and then plane to the line. only takes a few minutes. Mark a centerline and make sure you get equal amounts off each side so that your frets stay perpendicular to the centerline. And definitely get the fretboard to your final dimensions before gluing to the neck.

I'm actually surprised the stewmac kit fb needs to be tapered.

I cut the one i'm working on (a stew mac 000 - my first kit ever) with a coping saw close to the line. Unfortunately too close - the blade twisted a bit and i under cut the line. Ruined the fret board. I'd say if you don't have access to a band saw, then leave yourself plenty of room for error with a coping saw, and then sneak up to the line with a plane. I'd still trim the board before gluing no matter what.

PS, for my replacement board i got a small band saw.