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I'm ready to inlay abalone fret markers into the fretboards for my project guitars. Do I inlay before or after radiusing? I'm radiusing the boards to 15". The markers are small slotted diamonds which will be inlaid into a rosewood fretboard, using traditional layout and placement (3, 5, 7, 9, 12).

I'm inclined to inlay the markers level with the surface, then radius. It seems that it would be difficult to route evenly when working with a radiused board.

Thank you!

Diane Kauffmds wrote:I'm ready to inlay abalone fret markers into the fretboards for my project guitars. Do I inlay before or after radiusing? I'm radiusing the boards to 15". The markers are small slotted diamonds which will be inlaid into a rosewood fretboard, using traditional layout and placement (3, 5, 7, 9, 12).

I'm inclined to inlay the markers level with the surface, then radius. It seems that it would be difficult to route evenly when working with a radiused board.

Thank you!

Diane, for small diamonds I think you could go either way. For the small diamonds the small curve at the bottom of the inlay rebate does not seem to matter. For the small diamonds I always radius first and route right on the radius-ed fret board. If I have a wide inlay I put thin strips along the side of the radiased fret board for the router base to ride on so I do not get too much curve on the bottom of the rebate slot.

I prefer after radiusing

Thanks. I'll radius first.