First up was dimensioning the fretboard to final dimensions. A bit trickier than I would have thought. I like my fretboard to be about 4mm. The “gully” along the back is about 1.5mm as is the fret cuts so not a lot of room.
True confessions…while cutting the fretboard taper yesterday, I goofed and cut across the line (you can see the goof in the 2nd photo). I guess I just made “the big mistake” every ukulele build and builder seems to have. Fortunately the fretboard is wide enough to create a new centerline with all of 2mm room for error. First, needed to fill in the kerf-line gully (used with the carbon-fiber rod to center the fretboard on the neck) with a strip of ebony. After sanding, you couldn’t tell there was an error.
After cutting a new gully, I cut the taper using the tablesaw and my Incra miter sled. Had to make a new hold-down for the sled to insure no movement. Should have done that a long time ago.
Then added mother-of-pearl markers and side dots. I really need to get a better set of drill bits. Markers & dots use very odd-sized bits (e.g., 5.5mm – 7/32 for the markers, and 2.35mm – 3/32 for dots). My current set of brad-point bits aren’t that granular. Had to use twist bits which can create some traveling. Fortunately all looked ok. A touch of super glue and some scraping and we have a fretboard.
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