Official Luthiers Forum!

If you are doing a fairly large peghead shell inlay, that will be taking up some of the same space as your tuner holes, would you inlay first then drill your six holes?

Would a fairly decent drill bit slice through the shell without doing the inlay damage?

Thanks,

Ray

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

I'd drill first and file the inlay pieces to fit around the holes (plus a gap if using press fit bushings). Shell is very stiff and brittle, so there's a definite risk of chipping, cracking, or pulling up pieces. I've never actually tried it though, so I'm not sure what the probability of damage would be...

You can drill shell, I do it all the time to insert the blade on my jeweler's saw for internal cuts such as the inside of of letter O's. But these are tiny bits. If it were me, I'd use the approach Dennis mentioned, and I would bevel the edges of the shell around the holes to help prevent breakage. I do this with inlays that cross fret slots and have never had a piece of shell break.

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It will probably be alright.

Instead of drilling the shell, you can inlay it and then use your dremel to "slowly" cut the shell from the peg hole.

Before you do the inlay, drill you tuner holes. Install the inlay. Using an inlay bit and dremel with router base, drill a small hole in the inlay where the tuner hole is. Gradually increase the size of the hole until it matches the tuner hole and just a touch more so the bushing doesn't crack the shell.

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Kevin Mason
Mason Guitars and Ukuleles on Facebook
http://masonguitars.net

Great idea Kevin.

The hole circumference plus relief is simply another boundary, trim inlay to fit around them.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I use a set of diamond hole saws to cut bigger holes in pearl. I also use them to make marker dots in odd sizes.

Interesting inlay, Greg. Is that as in what you have wasted on this lutherie thing? If so, I need to do a series that, in addition to "inheritance" includes: "youth", "sanity", "harmony", and "potential". [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]


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LOL I hear you! The inlay was requested by the customer, who is a worship leader. The word 'inheritance' has biblical significance.

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It will probably be alright.