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In a continual effort to improve quality and minimize opportunities for calculation errors, I am curious how you guys get your side dots positioned and drilled.

I just did a set by hand last night with the calipers and a small hand powered twist drill. While the results are pretty good, I notice a small shift on one of the dots (no one I showed it to could see it, but **I** know it is there). Plus the process took more than 90 minutes to measure, mark, drill, inlay, flush and clean up.

Has anyone figured out a slick way to get these perfect?

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I do it the same way, id be very intersted in a better (quicker) way too.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Set up a fence on your drill press which will control the centering on the FB edge [from fret side to neck ]side}. Make a mark where you want the dot, hold the FB against the fence and have at it.

I have used the hand method and use a sharp center punch to locate the hole prior to drilling but as you have discovered the bit can drift. The fence method is much more accurate. You can drill it before or after gluing the FB to the neck. I drill prior to fretting though.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Yep, a fence on a drill press. However, in my situation most people only want one dot anyway.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

you should pick up a small center drill. They don't drift.



Seems like this could be part of a fret cutting template with a little ingenuity

I eyeball them. Learn to trust (and develop) your estimation skills.

I used to use a fancy jig with templates, guide bushings, special bits, hold downs, etc. Much like a fretting setup. There was still enough play where one would occasionally end up off center. Not to mention the setup time.

Now I just use an awl to mark, and a hand drill. I think the results are better. For the first few dots, I will use a ruler to get lined up. For me, simpler is better on this one.

Just get them between the "right" frets...

Hi guys,

I know that small round side dots are expected on a traditional guitar neck but on the necks I've done (a whopping two so far) I chose to cut out interesting shapes from MOP instead of the standard 2.5 - 3mm pearl or abalone circles. It takes just an extra hour or two & makes the neck look more individualized or special. You can be less intent on perfect positioning with these other kinds of shapes too. I used inverted notched triangles on one neck & sideways Arabic letters on the other neck.

I guess most folks really prefer the standard look for complimenting more traditional-looking guitar designs. Just thought you might entertain an alternative view ...

Skip

PS: Brock & Lance ... you guys did a great job redesigning & implementing the "new & improved" OLF site. I haven't had a chance yet to applaud your efforts. Here's to ya!

I have a jig that I use to do this, I'll take some pics and post them tomorrow, it's easy to make and get precise results...

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

I custom make my dots by glueing a small piece of abalone to the blunt end of the drill of whatever size I've chosen with CA. Put the drill in the chuck upside down, sand with some 220 grit stuck to the squared off edge of piece of scrap. Then soak for five or ten minutes in acetone and the abalone pops off with some thumb pressure. Use the same drill to drill the holes and you get a perfect fit every time. I did the different sized dots on my 12th fret marker like this.

Then use a fence on the drill press table like the other guys have said.

My problem with drilling the dots prior to gluing down the finger board, is quite often after the board it glued down, it need to be leveled, this would bring some dots closer to the edge than others, depending where your FB was leveled and were the most material was removed.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I had a side dot that was out of position. It was terrrible. I could see it from across the room. I never got around to fixing it until recently. Well, guess what? I couldn't find which dot it was. I got out the calipers and measured. They were all off a little but none were off by much. I just don't remember which dot it was and since I can no longer see it I'm assuming that no one else can either.

I tried to get'm centered but I missed!

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I install the side dots as the last step when the neck is completly done(before it attached to the body).
First I draw an accurate pencil line down the center of the binding then I use a divider to find the center between the frets,mark it with a scribe. Then I use a pin vise (turned by hand) with the appropriate drill and use the med. viscosity cyanoacrylate to glue them in. The whole process takes about 15 minutes.
I use 2mm abalone and pearl dots I buy from the Duke of Pearl.

I use 1.5mm wide x 2mm x .05 thk (2) 1.5mm x 1.5mm at the 12th ablam perfling straights with rounded ends. I am jiged to use my Dremel to cut the channels. I do it just before finishing the neck.