Official Luthiers Forum!

I am building some necks that have maple fingerboards (electrics). The standard for these is black dots. I think originally they used bakalite. I was thinking of trying to find plastic rod or simular but have not had luck. I would rather not go with Black MOP for cost reasons. (I need a lot...100+ on a regular basis).

I also tried making some out of some very old Ebony, but the new plug cutter mostly just smokes while trying to cut the wood. It works fine on Walnut, rosewood, maple, etc. The ebony is from old Guitar Necks and old Piano keys etc.

Anyone have a solution for black dots?

Thanks
Joe

_________________
Joe

PVC and ABS plastic and black MOP if you want it iridescent. Both are readily available.

I have a stick or two of black plastic rod from Stew Mac if you want to give it a try before buying a bunch

_________________
John Ressler

Yo Jo,

So you wants a solution for black dots eh?

Well ... to get rid of black dots...you could try a mixture of Ajax and water or whiskey and start rubben them off with a piece of leather. May be some bleach might work too.

And to add black dots ...a solution of lamp black and whatever liquid carrier/ binder your emotionally attached to will make a nice paint.

Now if yer really into making ebony round ...get a lathe ...a good fast one. Thats what me use. Metal lathe for accuracy,,,,wood lathe for quick and dirty.

blessings
the
Padma

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

Hey John, I did not see 1/4" rods at SM. I use there 1/16" side dots though. I will take another look. Thanks for the offer.

Joe

_________________
Joe

I was referring to the small "side dot" markers, which is what I use on the fret board. 1/4" black on maple just seems too big for me.

You can get all sizes of black (can other colors) plastic rod at McMaster

http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastic-rods/=4qvpvp

_________________
John Ressler

Yo, Joe

You might wanna take up knitting...me here its a good hobby. And while your ijn the knitting stor, check out the knitting needles...all sizes, shapes and colours.

blessings

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

You know, I did that for side dots a few years ago... Never thought of it for the other dots. Great idea. Thanks.

_________________
Joe

You should be able to find some black delrin or nylon at McMaster Carr. Nylon is cheaper. Should be able to cut that size with a razor blade. Spinning it will make it easier.

Tim

Joe,

Use a 1/4" drill bit, cut small squares of your ebony so that a 1/4" round fits in them and superglue this to the no-drill end of the drill bit. Mount the drill upside down in a drill press and set up a jig to sand the ebony to the drill bit shape (usually sandpaper on a stick held against the drill bit as it rotates in the drill press). Slice off the "dot" with a razor blade or whatever and there you go. I used this technique to make 5mm Brazilian Rosewood inlay dots in these maple fretboards on an acoustic lapslide:

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Ebony turns like a charm. Use a lathe or find someone with a lathe and turn some 1/4" dowels, then slice em off.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......