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Yeah, next fretboard, I'll cut the inlay *before* the fret slots. I had hoped the think aluminum sheet I have from the hobby store would work, but it's just too thick to fit in the slot, and it was the thinnest they had. They carry brass sheets so I'm hoping they'll have something thinner.
Thanks for the tips about the epoxy pour. I should be able to get to it this weekend.
Yes, but it's easier to cut the slots when the fretboard is still a rectangle so it can be placed in the miter box to guide the fret saw. Doing it freehand, even with part of the fret slot already previously cut, is a bit more difficult.
Here's a crazy idea. What about using removable (bathroom) caulk just at the point where the fret slot and the inlay meet? That should hold back any filler (once the caulk has dried) and then be easy to remove. Maybe? You might even have a tube around the house that you could use to experiment with on some scrap wood.
I think it would be pretty hard to get the caulk out of the slot once the epoxy cured. I like the metal strips the best so far. I'll see what the hobby store has.
In the mean time, I did a test pour of the epoxy on a test board. Pardon my freehand routing.
I like the smaller strips where I just poured some clear, and used that nail to dip into the colored epoxy, and streaked it. The sparkle was disappointing. I think at least one more test is warranted.
In the mean time, I did a test pour of the epoxy on a test board. Pardon my freehand routing.
I like the smaller strips where I just poured some clear, and used that nail to dip into the colored epoxy, and streaked it. The sparkle was disappointing. I think at least one more test is warranted.
Hopkins
Commercial User
That's what I was thinking, maybe a layer of epoxy or polyester casting resin with a high concentration of silver mica pearl. I made some pen blanks like that so I can take a photo when I get home so yall can get an idea of what it looks like. I might be home tomorrow, I've been staying with my parents while recovering from a minor surgery.
Hopkins
Commercial User
You may consider a polyester casting resin in place of epoxy. I have found that it has less tendencies to get bubbles trapped, dries harder and shrinks less than the epoxies I have used.
I took a break from the epoxy (or poly casting resin) pour and worked on this:
Pickup cover, etched into clear plexi.
Pickup cover, etched into clear plexi.
That looks time consuming. I'd take that to a trophy shop and let them engrave it. You gonna paint it or leave it frosted?
And a few more parts came in.
Aluminum stiffening rods for the neck through, along with the bridge and jack plates.
Yes, over an hour. I can engrave it with the laser cutter. I think I'll leave it frosted, maybe even side light it with red LED's.
Aluminum stiffening rods for the neck through, along with the bridge and jack plates.
Yes, over an hour. I can engrave it with the laser cutter. I think I'll leave it frosted, maybe even side light it with red LED's.
Watching this build with great interest, as with all your builds. As for the pickup cover -- my thought is, not to "over-egg the pudding", as the Brits say. You don't want too many different flashy design elements clamoring for attention. My 2 cents, etc. Regardless - fantastic build!
Stewmac sells .020" teflon sheet, basically made for preventing epoxy or CA from gumming up a fret slot. Looks like you just cut strips to size off it.
http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tool...r_Necks_and_Fingerboards/Teflon_Fret_Dam.html
http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tool...r_Necks_and_Fingerboards/Teflon_Fret_Dam.html
Thanks, great find! I'll stop by the hobby shop today and if I strike out there, I'll place an order.
I made a maple pickup cover - at least the outside shape this morning. I'm a little concerned about the timing to receive the actual Delano pickup - it's a special order, so it may not be here in time. I'll use this as a backup, and see about using the yet to be made plexi engraved flamed cover.
Just got back from the Hobby store. They had brass strips (.016):
And Casting Resin, along with assorted other sundries.
I'm off for laser cutting class. I'll do some more testing later today or tomorrow.
And Casting Resin, along with assorted other sundries.
I'm off for laser cutting class. I'll do some more testing later today or tomorrow.
I think that might be overdoing it a little. If you want to carry the fire motif to the body a few flicker flame LEDs in the body cavities could work . 5mm Flickering Candle Flame LED - Red
So I just got back from laser class. During the class, someone asked how to use a file they created. I offered to supply a file and a piece of wood for "demonstration" purposes.
We did one normal, one reversed. I think I'll go with the etched pickup cover. Perhaps the etched and lit plexi was overdoing it. I think I'll use the "regular" side for the neck-thru pickup cover, unless the Delano pickup doesn't show up on time.
We did one normal, one reversed. I think I'll go with the etched pickup cover. Perhaps the etched and lit plexi was overdoing it. I think I'll use the "regular" side for the neck-thru pickup cover, unless the Delano pickup doesn't show up on time.
That was noble of you to volunteer a file for demonstration
. Both cool, but I think i like the first one better.
. Both cool, but I think i like the first one better.
2nd pour test results:
I poured the casting resin last night. It's still tacky this morning. I'm not sure if it's the mix I got wrong, or the cool temps, but I don't like that it hasn't fully cured. The color streaks, which I thought would emulate flames, coalesced into just a trans red. I guess the streaks just spread out as the resin cured. The mica powder with red tips looks ok, though the mica in the casting resin - the mica seems to settle a bit to the bottom, unlike the epoxy/mica mix which stays well mixed during the cure.
Casting resin mixed with both color and mica looks ok, but also seems to settle out during cure. I'm over the sparkles. It looks like a child's scrap book. It's not too bad under the epoxy mix with a dusting of mica - the right most bottom pic, but I think I'm going with either epoxy with both mica powder and color mixed in, or epoxy with mica powder and just color the tips of the flames red. The entire flame inlay all red may be too much for me. I'll think about it for a while.
I poured the casting resin last night. It's still tacky this morning. I'm not sure if it's the mix I got wrong, or the cool temps, but I don't like that it hasn't fully cured. The color streaks, which I thought would emulate flames, coalesced into just a trans red. I guess the streaks just spread out as the resin cured. The mica powder with red tips looks ok, though the mica in the casting resin - the mica seems to settle a bit to the bottom, unlike the epoxy/mica mix which stays well mixed during the cure.
Casting resin mixed with both color and mica looks ok, but also seems to settle out during cure. I'm over the sparkles. It looks like a child's scrap book. It's not too bad under the epoxy mix with a dusting of mica - the right most bottom pic, but I think I'm going with either epoxy with both mica powder and color mixed in, or epoxy with mica powder and just color the tips of the flames red. The entire flame inlay all red may be too much for me. I'll think about it for a while.
