Official Luthiers Forum!

The worst part of my first build is that the side dots are barely visible, I used POC in cherry binding, and when sanded, the cherry darkens the POC enough that they are hard to see. I am not happy to use plastic on my guitar, but I do need the dots to be visible. So I notice a scrap of PVC in the shop, cut a 1/4 stick, shove it in the pencil sharpener and seems I have a nice round fret dot, very white, any issues with this? A little CA and it should be a deal.
Rob

_________________
http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

Another trick is colored artist's leads. You can find them at art supply. There are endless possibilities.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

If you want wood, try holly. Chuck a 1/8" piece about 2" long in your electric drill and run a file on it till it's the diameter you want. Cyano it in and saw off and sand. Holly is about as white as you can get in wood.

Thanks for the suggestions, next chance to score some Holly I will, we don't even have an indecent hobby shop around here, I did have an idea as I fell asleep last night, I have a bone cut off from a saddle that is large enough, I can chuck that to make it round, I don't think the hardness will be too difficult to sand.

I strive to keep the materials as natural as possible, though I won't put down the LMI white glue bottle, and accept plastic tuner buttons till the $$ is there for the wood knobs.
Thanks again,
Rob

_________________
http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

That's a good tip! Never even considered that!

Thanks, John

_________________
Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

If you can stand brass position markers, 16 ga. brass brads will work fine. Just use a 1/6" drill bit, drive in the brad, cut off and file flush. I used them on my guitar and they haven't tarnished yet.

Joe

Thanks for the suggestions, I like the brass, but this is cherry binding, so that will not pop so well, but on a white binding I like it. I have some rod around too. Part of the problem is the cherry, it is not light or dark, hard to contrast.
I went with the scrap of bone saddle that I had, hey, I had it, and it is not plastic, easy. It came round pretty easy in the drill press with the sander, then a clean up with the file. It looks OK, not going to replace them, but not likely to use it again, the dark edges are not what I want, also I did the 12th fret pair a little smaller, since the others are .105, but they look a little too much smaller.
Thanks again,
Rob

_________________
http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

Remember that cherry will darken over time, so you'll eventually get more contrast that way.

Joe