Posted by Mark Lindsay on December 24, 2013 at 2:54pm
I stained the neck, then cut fret slots into it as if I was going to install frets. Then I inlaid strips of .020 balsa sheet from the hobby store. I then sanded the markers flush and finished the neck in satin polyurethane.
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Looks awesome, Pascal! It can get pretty tedious, but it wasn't too bad. I don't think I'd like to spend an 8 hour day doing this and this only, but overall I think the results are worth it.
Heh - between 35 years of Army Aviation and working in cabinet shops, I guess anything is possible. Some of it's pretty probable. I just wanted something other than the burned in fret markers I've done up until now. I don't have a steady enough hand for painting them on, so my options are kind of limited. I plan on trying all kinds of materials - brass, aluminum, etc... I like different looks for different builds. If I ever get a shop again, I plan on building a big drum sander. Then I can use all kinds of different woods.
I'm also playing around with strips of .020 styrene. So far I've confirmed that Tru-Oil, polyurethane, and Minwax stains don't melt it. Now I'm on a quest to find the right adhesive to glue it to the wood neck. So far it looks like cyanoacrylate (super glue) is the winner.
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to me it was well worth it. the contrast on yours is even better looking.
Looks awesome, Pascal! It can get pretty tedious, but it wasn't too bad. I don't think I'd like to spend an 8 hour day doing this and this only, but overall I think the results are worth it.
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/p18-04-13-08-07-01-1?context=user
pita work isnt it? did same on my reso, awesome result though :)
Sounds like fun and good plans, Mark.
Heh - between 35 years of Army Aviation and working in cabinet shops, I guess anything is possible. Some of it's pretty probable. I just wanted something other than the burned in fret markers I've done up until now. I don't have a steady enough hand for painting them on, so my options are kind of limited. I plan on trying all kinds of materials - brass, aluminum, etc... I like different looks for different builds. If I ever get a shop again, I plan on building a big drum sander. Then I can use all kinds of different woods.
Ha, you are a mad scientist. Or maybe just a ticked off scientist with toxic inhalation syndrome...
I'm also playing around with strips of .020 styrene. So far I've confirmed that Tru-Oil, polyurethane, and Minwax stains don't melt it. Now I'm on a quest to find the right adhesive to glue it to the wood neck. So far it looks like cyanoacrylate (super glue) is the winner.
Yup. Good idea. I am much into fretless lately, but have been thinking about trying bobby pin frets on an old build.
yup .. kewl!