I'm working on a difficult fretboard inlay and am struggling to find the best method, maybe someone here has some advice..... I'm working on a maple fretboard (separate from neck), and it needs block inlays (like the picture). Now my first attempt was a Noble one, but alas it couldn't cut it. So I sourced some ABS blocks and lined them up with my centerline and laid them out (I actually lid them out pretty well). Drop of CA glue and then score around the block and fill with a thin mechanical pencil. Then peel up the block and hit the outside lines with a chisel trying to go as straight as possible. Once the lines are firmly indented, I take the Dremel with the router base and clean out the inside. Afterwards, I clean up with a chisel.... Now this had it looking pretty okay as long as you don't look too close, but there were still gaps here and there and, as you well know, any mistake on maple stands out.
Do I just need more practice at this? Or is there a better way?
Now I'm toying with the idea of just routing cavities and then filling with black epoxy instead of using blocks. Is that a bad idea? Interested to see how others tackle this!
You did all the right things. It's just incredibly difficult Inlaying onto a maple fretboard. Just keep practicing until you become the master.
I have seen people use the black super glue with the ebony inlay which did give it a sharp edge..... but again you still have to cut a sharp edge into the maple first.
Keep on keeping on.
🙂🎵🙏🎸
🗝️ "Life's what you make it"🗝️
Sounds like you're putting a lot of effort into this—props for sticking with it! Your method is solid, but yeah, it can be tricky, especially with something like maple that shows every little detail. More practice definitely helps, but if you're looking to improve, a few tips could be using a sharper chisel and making sure your Dremel bit is fine and precise. Also, you could try a different method of marking the inlays, like using masking tape to outline the area before cutting—it might help with cleaner lines. As for switching to epoxy, that's actually a great idea! Many people use black epoxy for inlays and it can look really clean and smooth. Just make sure to properly mask off the surrounding area to avoid any mess, and maybe even experiment on a scrap piece first.
🗝️ "Life's what you make it"🗝️