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Good morning guys,
What tooling / method are you guys using to mark and drill for the fingerboard markers ?
I use a vernier caliper to measure in-between the fret slots, then I measure the width of the fingerboard, however when I drill it seems on at least a couple I have ever so slightly an off center placement.
Is there a process I'm unaware of, maybe a magical jig I can buy ??
Or do I just suck at these type of precise measurement and drilling
What type of drill bit are you guys using to get a nice clean hole ??

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Gregg

I had problems too until someone passed along this tip. I assume you have a center line on your fret board. For a 5th fret marker, draw a diagonal line between the 4th and 5th fret slots (imagine the slots are the horizontal lines of a "Z"). Where the diagonal intersects your center line is your center point.

Brad point drill bit is what you want to use.

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I don't even mess with the center line. I draw two diagonals in between the frets that I want to inlay the dot. Where they intersect is the center. I then use a forstner bit for wood excavation as it has a sharp point in the center, but also a wider flat surface for gluing as opposed to a drill bit.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I use a high-quality, sharp brad point bit also. I measure with calipers between frets but the diagonals should work fine too. The biggest thing for me is lots of light and magnifiers when I drill precision holes so I can make sure they go where I want. Sometimes I will use the magnifiers and a very sharp awl to mark the hole before I drill; that acts somewhat like a pilot hole.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thanks guys, excellent advise !!
In ten minutes you all came through, I love this site !!
I purchased my brad point bits on ebay, I think there junk, I'm heading out to Lowes right now for a quality set !!

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Gregg

I'm not sure of the quality you find at Lowes but these http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.a ... 2240,42247 are pretty good. I have the set of 7 but I wish I had just bought the 28 set. A 10mm brad point is very handy also.

Theguitarwhisper,
Are the forstner bits available in small mm sizes (5,6,7,8,) ??

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Gregg

With the pencil very sharp I use one like this the pointed metal end rides in the fret slot one each side of where the dot will go. Actual center will be between those two lines. I use this same tool to find center the long way as well running it along the side edge. Most hardware stores of any size carry these compasses. They only cost a couple of bucks.

The only time you need to measure is when setting the distance from the outside you want to set double dots. On a board that is already tapered, set your compass to this amount and run along the outside edge. It is best to then set a fence of some sort for drilling the double dots that will keep this distance from outer edge the same. To drill I use a brad point bit. I hold my work in a cheap cross vise I got from harbor freight. This makes it easy.

You really shouldn't be doing a lot of measuring and marking. Measuring and marking will introduce error.

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i like that method.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

I use these as well. I've only seen one review on brad points and these rated the best. I would have to agree so far.

The smallest I've seen is 1/4 inch, which is the smallest dot I use.
Doesn't mean they don't exist.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Danny,
You were right, the bits at Lowes were of lower quality.
I ordered a set of HSS bits from Lee Vally,
Thanks

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Gregg