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Make your own MOP side dots
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=22351		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Dave Stewart [ Tue May 12, 2009 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  Make your own MOP side dots
...not sure this warrants a tutorial, but I was making some so I thought I'd record it.
I did a kitplane airframe some years ago & was left with a bunch of used #30 twist drills.
I kept the best for drilling into the fingerboard edge.
The rest I dipped in a drop of CA & glued to shards of MOP left over from my peghead logo cutout.
Attachment:
dots1.jpg

Against the drumsander in the drillpress, I spin the bit in my fingers to rough it down (watch the gap).
You're aiming for close (about .020" oversized) and approx. round, so it doesn't spin like a square wheel during the next step.
Attachment:
dots2.jpg

This show a bunch rough sanded.... the middle one is stil too big.
Attachment:
dot3.jpg

I shape to final dia. by chucking in the drillpress & using a sanding block to lightly reduce to bit size.
I like to finish by tapering 2 or 3 thou. to ease installation.
Attachment:
dots4.jpg

Pop 'em off & you're done. The green dots indicate the larger dia. surface.
Attachment:
dots5.jpg

With enough bits, you can make a guitars worth in under an hour..... not a "production" rate but ok for me.
If you get a hoot out building everything when you build a guitar
(or have a beautiful material you think would look great as side dots) give it a try.
Author:  Joe Sustaire [ Sat May 23, 2009 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Make your own MOP side dots
Hey Dave, that is cool!!!
I'll be giving this a try.

Thanks,
Joe
Author:  Kim [ Sat May 23, 2009 6:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Make your own MOP side dots
Very cool Dave,

Can see this coming in real handy when u'r one or two short and shipping will loose you a few days.

Thanks for posting

Kim
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