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Good Marker for fret dressing
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=55126
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Author:  Bill Higgs [ Wed Jul 06, 2022 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Good Marker for fret dressing

Has anyone found a good marker to use that they can see easily when dressing the frets? The old black Magic Marker is getting hard to see.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Wed Jul 06, 2022 8:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

I use red magic marker - and my OptiVisor too, of course :)


Steve

Author:  Chris Pile [ Wed Jul 06, 2022 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

I've used a black Sharpie for 40 years.

Author:  Barry Daniels [ Wed Jul 06, 2022 10:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

Yep, a red Sharpie is easier to see than black.

Author:  J De Rocher [ Wed Jul 06, 2022 10:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

I settled on using blue or red "King Size" Sharpies. I find both blue and red easier to see than black. Maybe the color that works best depends on the type of lighting you are working under.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:07 am ]
Post subject:  Good Marker for fret dressing

I meant Sharpie! And yes, the big ones


Steve

Author:  Hesh [ Wed Jul 06, 2022 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

Red Marks-a-lot.

Author:  Bill Higgs [ Wed Jul 06, 2022 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

Thanks Guys
I went out and bought several markers today at Hobby Lobby, and you know what? The Red Sharpie really stood out as being the best for me to see. Made a huge difference.
(P.S. - Don't even think about buying the paint marking type pens. They go on too thick and do not stick to the fret very well.)
Once again, thanks for all the suggestions.

Author:  Pmaj7 [ Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

Blue sharpie. The big one for jumbos. Medium for narrower or low frets.

Pat

Author:  Smylight [ Thu Jul 07, 2022 11:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

Red is best, with green close second for my aging eyes.


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

Author:  Hesh [ Fri Jul 08, 2022 3:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

Couple more things to share.

Permanent markers and Gibson "nibs" or binding in general can be a problem if you can't clean off stray marker so be careful you folks using Sharpies..... Marks-a-lot what we use (red) does clean off and scrape off when necessary even though they list it as permanent.

In an entire refret or initial fretting I may only mark with the marker twice, three times max. It's a look at what you have at a few different stages. With good lighting (and I'm 65 and don't see all that well) it is possible to do this with very little use of the marker. We cut down on marker use to prolong the life of our papers on our beams and that works great for us.

If you position great lighting and move around left and right you will see what I mean, you can see where the beam hits a fret with no marking too, it just requires the proper position and perspective.

Hesh is suggesting learning to rely on the marker less and instead learn the process and what to anticipate and look for.

Author:  jfmckenna [ Fri Jul 08, 2022 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

Hesh wrote:
We cut down on marker use to prolong the life of our papers on our beams and that works great for us.



I am glad to hear someone else say thins because I noticed the same thing too and thought I was going crazy becasue how could a little ink do that?

---

I don't use a marker and rely on good lighting. I have a little flexible clip on ring light that is very useful.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

the ink on those can be pretty gummy

Author:  Hesh [ Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

Steve and JF, exactly it gums stuff up especially if you are marking on top of existing marking that was not sanded off yet.

Author:  rlrhett [ Sun Jul 10, 2022 12:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

FWIW I’ve always used dry erase markers. Perhaps there is a reason that’s a bad idea? I dunno. Dries to what looks and feels like a fine powder. The slightest touch of the sandpaper shows up well. Clean up is almost too easy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Author:  Hesh [ Sun Jul 10, 2022 2:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Good Marker for fret dressing

rlrhett wrote:
FWIW I’ve always used dry erase markers. Perhaps there is a reason that’s a bad idea? I dunno. Dries to what looks and feels like a fine powder. The slightest touch of the sandpaper shows up well. Clean up is almost too easy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro


Sounds like a good fit Randy and I have some and will give it a try too.

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