How to Inlay a Guitar Fretboard

How to design and make your own inlayed fretboard for any type of guitar.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tracing paper
• Pencil
• Jewelers saw
• Notched block of wood
• Dremel tool
• Router attachment
• 1/32" router bit
• Vacuum w/hose attachment
• Stick glue
• Slow set epoxy
• Sawdust made from fretboard scrap

1. 
    
   Your design must be something you can actually cut out

   Draw your idea for a design on tracing paper that is marked with the dimensions of your fretboard. Make sure the design is something you could cut out and reassemble. If you can't do this, you probably won't be able to inlay the design. If that's the case, modify it until you can.

2. 
    
   You can also use a computer with a vector drawing program to create your design.

   Place a copy of your drawing onto the material you plan to inlay. Trace the lines with a sharp X-acto knife. Remove the remains of the copy and rub the material with pencil lead dust to highlight the lines you made with the X-acto knife.

3. 
    

   Using the jeweler's saw, carefully cut out each piece with a fine blade. Use a notched block of wood to support your work. It's also good to have a vacuum to remove the fine dust so you don't breath it in. But, be careful not to suck up any of the pieces you just cut.

4. 
    

   Arrange the pieces on another copy of your drawing. Glue them into place with a dab of stick glue.

5. 
    
   Trace the design with an X-acto knife to transfer it to the fretboard

   Place the design onto your fretboard and trace it with an X-acto knife, pressing down firmly to mark the fretboard. Remove the pieces and wipe the fretboard with some white chalk dust to highlight the design.

6. 
    
   Use the router to follow the lines you etched into the fretboard in Step 5.

   Use a Dremel with a router attachment and a 1/32" router bit to rout the design into the fretboard. The depth of the rout should equal the thickness of the material you are inlaying.

7. 
    
   Slow-set epoxy allows you to take your time and not rush the process.

   After making sure each piece will fit into it's routed shape, mix some slow-set epoxy with a pich of sawdust made from fretboard scrap. Glue in each piece and make sure the glue fills all nooks and crannies. Don't worry about wiping the excess away. You'll sand it away latter.

8. When the glue has dried-usually overnight-you can sand away the excess glue with 150 grit sand paper followed by 220 grit and finally 400 grit.

9. 
    
   Personalize your guitar with some fancy inlay work.

   Install the fretwire (or have a guitar repair expert do it for you) and glue the fretboard onto your guitar neck. String up the guitar and be prepared to dazzle your friends and fans!

Tips & Warnings

• Inlay material can be shell, abalone, wood, metal and acrylic. Whatever you choose should be no more than 1/16" thick.
• You should wear a mask when cutting and gluing your inlay as the fumes and dust can be a respiratory irratant.