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fretboard inlay finished!, now what?
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Author:  kamaK [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:04 am ]
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i just finished my first large inlay on my ebony fretboard but i am stuck on the next step. all my inlay is glued in . i want to radius the fretboard with a 20" radius fretboard sanding block. does anyone have any insight on how to make one for a classical fretboard or any fretboard for that matter. i need to clean out the inlay material from the fret slots. i want to use my 1/32" dremmel if possible (not sure on how to do this). and i need to glue in the frets with the raduis. i would like to stay away from making or purchasing a fret bender but i am wondering if i can. do i need a caul for gluing the frets in?

Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:28 am ]
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The radius block is easy. you start with you index finger ad dial StewMac

.03125 is an very very wide fret slot so I would not use a 1/32 bit I would use you fret saw or do as I do and use a .02 scroll saw blade

you want to saw the inlay not mill it if it is abalone or pearl milling can cause chipping if not at the perfect rpm and a new sharp bit.

I bend frets by hand on a mandrel I made of ironwood. It has a 2" smaller radius than my fretboard radius with a .1/32" slot for the tang to ride in. I clamp one end of a full length of wire in place on one end of the mandrel and using a 2" s.s. bar with the crown profile in it I pull the wire around the mandrel. It aint perfect but works good enough. I waist about 2" of wire per 2' of wire length for clamping and cut off of un bent area at the end of the wire,MichaelP38784.6486226852

Author:  Joe Beaver [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:13 am ]
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Michaels advise is solid. I'd forget about using the dremel for the slots. Sounds like a disater about to happen. Not only will you need to clean them out but after you radius the fingerboard they will need to be deepened a fair amount. A fret saw is the best bet.

Now me, I like to raduis first then inlay. You won't lose as much pearl when you sand it that way.


Author:  MSpencer [ Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:21 am ]
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If you have a drill press, you can use the StewMac Caul with the proper brasss radius fittig. I do this and have found that pre-bending to perfection is not as necessary vs. hammering. The press seats them in really nice at whatever radius you determine.

Mike

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