Fingerboard side dots

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ChuckBarnett
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:46 pm
Location: Arlington, WA

Fingerboard side dots

Post by ChuckBarnett »

My biggest fear in woodworking of any sort has always been accuracy. I have learned a lot in the past 3 years building up to this point. But I need to figure this one out. Didn't have any trouble with face dots on the fingerboard but as you can see from the photo I'm a long way away from anything approximating where I want to be! I will have to fill the bad holes and there are more than one with sawdust and glue. Not sure what glue to use but I think I'll use thinned down Titebond? And redrill. I'm not sure how to improve my accuracy and I welcome any tips!
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Danl8
Posts: 733
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:50 am
Location: Chadds Ford, PA

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by Danl8 »

Not sure what the proper way is, but I mark the spot with a fine sharpie or pencil and then use a bradpoint drill bit so it doesn't wander. Never had a problem this way. If I use a reject board already drilled inaccurately (like a Martin second), I turn a small toothpick and glue in, then redrill.
yellowesty
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2016 11:58 pm
Location: Petaluma, Calif.

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by yellowesty »

Chuck: I had exactly the same result as you on the first fretboard I drilled -- even though I carefully marked the spots and used an awl to create dimples to locate my drill. (The eye is remarkably sensitive to mis-centering and, even more, to non-uniform centering.)

My solution to misplaced side dots was a small jig using a scrap of aluminum that I bent to conform to the curve of the fretboard and then curl around the side of the fretboard. A side-dot-sized hole in the curl of the aluminum provided a guide which positioned my drill bit consistently. It still took care to position the dots appropriately along the length of the side of the fretboard.
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

If you have a drill press, very easy. Mark the spots, make an indent with a sharp awl, set the fence so that a brad point bit is right on the awl mark, and drill/move/drill/move the board down the fence and they will all be just right.

If no drill press, use a brad point drill in a drill motor and carefully position the point in the awl mark

Ed
Ed M
ChuckBarnett
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:46 pm
Location: Arlington, WA

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by ChuckBarnett »

A lot of good reading here for which I am grateful!
A common tip I've been catching is brad point but. I located a 1/16" b/p that should arrive later this week. Meantime I'll content myself with making a simple jig or two for this. :-)
twenty2late
Posts: 81
Joined: Sat May 28, 2016 8:48 am
Location: Savannah, GA

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by twenty2late »

Brad point bits are priceless for this...and with Amazon...they arrive super quick!

I would like to add my lesson learned here. Do not drill the side dots until you've radiused and leveled the fretboard! I've fallen in this trap twice now and it is so easy to avoid. Wait til you've got your fingerboard attached to your neck and you are ready to install the frets. Otherwise...the extra sanding will thin your fingerboard enough that your dots won't be centered anymore.

V/R
Ken
phavriluk
Posts: 554
Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:49 pm

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by phavriluk »

A bit of caution on using an awl to mark position. Don't be aggressive with it, just the least dimple that can guide a drill to center. I made a mistake on my last fingerboard and used an automatic center punch instead of an awl. Rosewood that thin splits readily.
peter havriluk
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

Just thought - a trick I recently learned (might have been here!!) is to run the drill in reverse for a second and that scores the outline of the circle without any danger of digging in. I have use it on a couple of holes and it worked well, and will be using it on a fretboard in just a few days.

Ed
Ed M
carld05
Posts: 170
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:19 pm
Location: Forest Ranch, CA

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by carld05 »

I use my Dad's old hand operated crank drill for this and the fingerboard dots. It goes forward and reverse with a lot less angst than a power drill.

Carl
MaineGeezer
Posts: 1711
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm

Re: Fingerboard side dots

Post by MaineGeezer »

I use a milling machine, but you probably don't have that option. I think 2nd choice would be a drill press. If you're doing the side dots, you'll likely need angle plate (or a piece of 4x4) to clamp the to. Get everything lined up and clamped where you want it, and drill.

If you clamp against the fingerboard, you can leave the angle plate (or 4x4) clamped to the drill press table and slide the neck along it, which will maintain the vertical alignment on the side of the fingerboard.
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