Anyone have any builds that feature tooth picks for fret wire. Also, I want to build a bridge using a wooden base and a finish nail. I figured I could use epoxy to seal the nail in the wooden piece. Let me know all of your thoughts. Thanks.
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I just posted a video of a cookie tin banjo I made with toothpick frets, they work great for me. You can look if you get time.
I’ve done a few Offset neck for instance. I’ve also used Cocktail skewers. As BrianQ noted, sanding to level the frets can be touchy. I tended to sand the bottom of the fret so that it didn’t wobble when I glued it to the fretboard. I’ve also done the Nail on wood bridge. I found that filing a channel in the wood let the tension from strings keep the nail in place without glue. Keep in mind I’m a little more rustic than some builders here. I work off of a card table with hand tools since that is what space allows. So there is probably better advice out there.
Also, I’ve tried smaller fence nails with good success, but thicker nails gave better sustain?
Both doable. Go to the “Search” box at the top of the page & type those two in & it will probably lead you to discussions & pictures pertaining to them? I have used toothpicks on lots of builds, basically you can saw/file a shallow channel in the neck to receive the toothpick or sand the bottom of toothpick flat before gluing? Only hard thing is leveling them, use some extra fine sandpaper for this, they can get taken down too fast with more coarse grits? The slower the better? On the Bridge, all you do is file a groove & glue the nail in, lower the Bridge by flat sanding the bottom of it? Simple :) good luck