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i just finished my first large inlay on my ebony fretboard but i am stuck on the next step. all my inlay is glued in . i want to radius the fretboard with a 20" radius fretboard sanding block. does anyone have any insight on how to make one for a classical fretboard or any fretboard for that matter. i need to clean out the inlay material from the fret slots. i want to use my 1/32" dremmel if possible (not sure on how to do this). and i need to glue in the frets with the raduis. i would like to stay away from making or purchasing a fret bender but i am wondering if i can. do i need a caul for gluing the frets in?

The radius block is easy. you start with you index finger ad dial StewMac

.03125 is an very very wide fret slot so I would not use a 1/32 bit I would use you fret saw or do as I do and use a .02 scroll saw blade

you want to saw the inlay not mill it if it is abalone or pearl milling can cause chipping if not at the perfect rpm and a new sharp bit.

I bend frets by hand on a mandrel I made of ironwood. It has a 2" smaller radius than my fretboard radius with a .1/32" slot for the tang to ride in. I clamp one end of a full length of wire in place on one end of the mandrel and using a 2" s.s. bar with the crown profile in it I pull the wire around the mandrel. It aint perfect but works good enough. I waist about 2" of wire per 2' of wire length for clamping and cut off of un bent area at the end of the wire,MichaelP38784.6486226852

Michaels advise is solid. I'd forget about using the dremel for the slots. Sounds like a disater about to happen. Not only will you need to clean them out but after you radius the fingerboard they will need to be deepened a fair amount. A fret saw is the best bet.

Now me, I like to raduis first then inlay. You won't lose as much pearl when you sand it that way.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

If you have a drill press, you can use the StewMac Caul with the proper brasss radius fittig. I do this and have found that pre-bending to perfection is not as necessary vs. hammering. The press seats them in really nice at whatever radius you determine.

Mike