Pin-routing Guitar Fretboard

[hobbyist]

Thought some of you might be interested to see how I'm using the OPR to route for inlay in a guitar fretboard. This was my first attempt at "pin routing" since I bought the router arm in September. It's also my first attempt at guitar building (this one from a kit), but that's another story !

Here's my setup with a (somewhat makeshift) dial indicator clamped to the router arm --

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The inlay is routed with a 1/32" carbide milling cutter. I made the small 1/32" pin for the table insert. It's basically short length of music wire pressed into a brass machine screw --

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I made two plastic templates; one for a diamond shaped inlay and one for square inlay --

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And here's the routed fretboard, ready for Abalone inlay --

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I'm really impressed with the overarm router. I hadn't paid much attention to it until I saw Nick's first mortising demo. I never realized that the quill arm functioned also to lock the quill in position. That is a great design.

Ray

[paul heller]

Ray, this is very impressive. Thanks for sharing.

Paul

[charlese]

That's just wonderful work, Ray. Great innovation! Now you've got me going on to new things!! At least mentally, so far. Thanks a million for your post and photos!:D

[hobbyist]

Thanks guys -- here's how it turned out with the Abalone inlay...

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Ray

[easterngray]

Just beautiful! Thanks - Alec

[dusty]

Alec - great work. It shows just what you can do, beautiful work to be proud of for a long, long time.

What's your next project?

[nuhobby]

Ray the hobbyist,

Many compliments on your ingenuity and precision work! Please keep us posted on your guitar development. I have pondered doing a guitar from time to time, but I've been somewhat intimidated as of yet.

Speaking of guitars, the SS.Forum people might like to know that the Stewart-MacDonald guitarmakers' catalog is a pretty cool resource. I used them to get a Wagner Safe-T-Plane several months ago... this is a small rotating planer-head that can be used in the drill-press mode.

Best Regards,

[Ed in Tampa]

Ray
I understand how you routed the recess to place the Abalone in but how did you cut the Abalone to fit? Also how did you cut the recesses for the fret wires?

Last night on "How it is made" on the science channel they showed the manufacture of a guitar, they had a machine that cut the 22 fret slots at one time insuring they were parallel. The process of guitar making was fascinating.

Your work looks beautiful.
Ed

[scottss]

Nice job Ray and thanks for the pics.

[nutball]

Excellent job, Ray!

I have a strong interest in building guitars and I have a OPR, so someday maybe I'll be able to follow your example for the fretboard inlays.

Feel free to share any other useful ideas!