Im considering using screws as my fret markers. I'm going for a rustic look and have several small flat head screws. I plan to counter sink them flush with the fret board. Can any share if this is going to create a problem? I can place them between the strings so as not to ride one one top of the screws. The fret board is fretted.
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
The best looking use of screws i saw was by Ken Timms on his pallet uke where he screwed the screws in from the side and ran the wood through his drum sander resulting in the full length of the screws being visible across the width of the fret board.
I fully agree with David McQueen: don't use force when you drill the screws into the fretboard, use your fingers tips only, not the wrist, and predrill with a thicker drill if necessary. I prefer stainless steel torx screws, to minimize the risk of slipping off the screw head with the screwdriver, but even these screws you can get broken. And once the head is broken, there are no simple remedies to get the screw out of the neck or fretboard.
90° countersinks for sinking countersunk head screws differ for metal and wood: for metal typically they have four cutting edges, for wood six, which yields a cleaner result in splitty wood like rosewood.
Trying to screw fine brass screws into hard wood without correct predrill and using force, you risk to turn the head off the screw, and in this case an «easy-out» will not help you. StewMac sells a Guitar Screw Rescue Kit for exorbitant $65, but this works only for the delicate screws used to fix the tuners and not for the screw sizes used for fret markers. So my best advice is to follow David McQueen's recommendations.
I use brass flat head, countersunk screws as fret markers. They work fine.... But....
1. Pre-drill the holes
2. Pre-fit the screws using the same size/thread steel screws, including the countersink.
The brass is great in that it does not corrode, but if you do not do as above, you will snap the screws off in the fret board and I can tell you from experience, they are no fun to get out.
I used screws to attach the fretboard on my washboard harp build because I made another fretboard with standard guitar fretting on [ the one that's on now has dulci fretting ] that way their interchangeable. 25" scale length works for both !
Replies
The best looking use of screws i saw was by Ken Timms on his pallet uke where he screwed the screws in from the side and ran the wood through his drum sander resulting in the full length of the screws being visible across the width of the fret board.
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?46202-Something-...
I fully agree with David McQueen: don't use force when you drill the screws into the fretboard, use your fingers tips only, not the wrist, and predrill with a thicker drill if necessary. I prefer stainless steel torx screws, to minimize the risk of slipping off the screw head with the screwdriver, but even these screws you can get broken. And once the head is broken, there are no simple remedies to get the screw out of the neck or fretboard.
90° countersinks for sinking countersunk head screws differ for metal and wood: for metal typically they have four cutting edges, for wood six, which yields a cleaner result in splitty wood like rosewood.
Trying to screw fine brass screws into hard wood without correct predrill and using force, you risk to turn the head off the screw, and in this case an «easy-out» will not help you. StewMac sells a Guitar Screw Rescue Kit for exorbitant $65, but this works only for the delicate screws used to fix the tuners and not for the screw sizes used for fret markers. So my best advice is to follow David McQueen's recommendations.
That sounded surprisingly dirty...
there is a way to remove the broken screw. they are called easy-outs
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/easy-out
I've seen some that REALLY look good. Good luck!
1. Pre-drill the holes
2. Pre-fit the screws using the same size/thread steel screws, including the countersink.
The brass is great in that it does not corrode, but if you do not do as above, you will snap the screws off in the fret board and I can tell you from experience, they are no fun to get out.
I used screws to attach the fretboard on my washboard harp build because I made another fretboard with standard guitar fretting on [ the one that's on now has dulci fretting ] that way their interchangeable. 25" scale length works for both !
I use straight slotted brass screws as markers and they look very rustic and somehow correct for the CBG.
You can still find straight slotted screws (instead of phillips head) on line.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next