How to make a fretboard
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 5:04 pm
I thought that our new folks might benefit from some comments and some photos on making a fretboard.
This is a special fretboard. I'm making an OM with a celtic theme. I've designed a special inlay, so I'll be making a second blog with photos on inlaying.
This Gabon ebony fretboard is already slotted. I slotted it on my tablesaw, using a fretboard slotting jig, template, and blade. I slot several boards at one time.
There are many ways to slot a board, if you have a blank. I converted a $10 plastic mitre saw jig into a decent guide and I used a $10 Irwin dovetail saw to make the slots for my first few guitars.
I use double sided tape (Duck brand) to tape the slotted blank to a flat board, because it's easier to work with if elevated off of the bench a bit. I also use the double sided tape to secure the wood with attached board to my bench. You can clamp the board, but sometimes the clamp gets in the way.
First, I radius the board. Since I slot the board on the tablesaw, I have to slot it face down. I have to radius it after slotting, not before. If you have a hand saw, you can radius the board before slotting. I use a radius beam with 80g psa sandpaper on it. (You can radius a board with a flat beam too; just angle the beam as you sand). It is easier and more accurate to use something long. You can even use the side of a decent level to sand a radius and do leveling.
I chalk the board, then start sanding with the radius beam or flat beam. I sand until all of the chalk is gone. I chalk the board again, and sand again, to ensure that the radius is accurate. Look at each end of the board. The radius should be even.
This is a special fretboard. I'm making an OM with a celtic theme. I've designed a special inlay, so I'll be making a second blog with photos on inlaying.
This Gabon ebony fretboard is already slotted. I slotted it on my tablesaw, using a fretboard slotting jig, template, and blade. I slot several boards at one time.
There are many ways to slot a board, if you have a blank. I converted a $10 plastic mitre saw jig into a decent guide and I used a $10 Irwin dovetail saw to make the slots for my first few guitars.
I use double sided tape (Duck brand) to tape the slotted blank to a flat board, because it's easier to work with if elevated off of the bench a bit. I also use the double sided tape to secure the wood with attached board to my bench. You can clamp the board, but sometimes the clamp gets in the way.
First, I radius the board. Since I slot the board on the tablesaw, I have to slot it face down. I have to radius it after slotting, not before. If you have a hand saw, you can radius the board before slotting. I use a radius beam with 80g psa sandpaper on it. (You can radius a board with a flat beam too; just angle the beam as you sand). It is easier and more accurate to use something long. You can even use the side of a decent level to sand a radius and do leveling.
I chalk the board, then start sanding with the radius beam or flat beam. I sand until all of the chalk is gone. I chalk the board again, and sand again, to ensure that the radius is accurate. Look at each end of the board. The radius should be even.