Inlay Innovations

Routing has always been a difficult task for me. I try to get it perfect, but frequently tiny gaps appear, just when you think you’ve got it. Thank goodness for coloured glues 🙂

The routing for the ukulele was done while the ukulele was on the stand that appears in an earlier step. The stand really helped get the fretboard close to me, at the right angle, and provided good lighting, so really I have no excuses for any gaps. But there were still some and all I can do is to grin and bear it.

Gluing a vine requires two people – one to mix the two part epoxy, colour it, and start on the next batch, while the other person places the pieces of pearl and abalone into the cavities, one piece after another. Frequently the pieces have to be jiggled into place and that has to be done quickly, before the epoxy sets up. So once you start, you have to continue until it’s finished – no breaks in the middle or you’ll have to start over with a new ukulele / fretboard. It’s a bit of a challenge. I’m happy to say we did it with no serious problems, although at one point I did feel the glue starting to feel a little viscous -eek !

Here’s the slide show –
As usual, click on a picture to start the slideshow, then click on the arrows at the bottom right and left, to advance or go back. Finally click on any picture to exit the slideshow.

Finally we get to sand the inlayed fretboard. Here’s where the inlay starts to show it’s beauty.

Here’s the slide show –
As usual, click on a picture to start the slideshow, then click on the arrows at the bottom right and left, to advance or go back. Finally click on any picture to exit the slideshow.

We’re getting closer to completion, but we still have to glue in the frets that were removed at the beginning of the project. Let’s hope they fit.