How to Use Powders and Compounds to Enhance Inlays - Guitar Builder's Basics - Podcast 206

[@Deebz270]

Around 30 years ago, someone gave me a long scale Musicman Bass. Someone else had ripped out all the frets, literally, pulling up bits of the fretboard (...obviously never heard of hollow-ground pincers...)! I decided that I wanted this bass to remain fretless, but wanted to keep the beautiful figured rosewood fretboard, so I decided use plain copper wire, a thick single core to inlay the fret channels in place of frets. Against the beautitful rosewood, the polished and flattened (half rounds) of copper wire stood out perfectly against the rosy-pink of the fretboard. Unfortunately, after a month or so, the copper lifted (popped) out of the fret channels (the half-round wires, were not 'keyed' sufficiently and I don't recall using cyanocryolate - I probably used Araldite or something...). Had I known what I know now, I'd have run a knife file across the wire to create a better keyed and grippy surface and used cyanocryolate. Though I think expansion of both fretboard and the copper wire and that copper is a somewhat 'oily' metal, caused them to pop ( and of course, no tangs). The idea was sound and looked amazing, giving a nice flat fretless surface, but still retaining the fret lines, to give one an idea on where each fret started and finished (not easy, when learning to play a fretless bass...). I have still got the guitar, but it now sports a beautiful ebony uber-length fretboard (extra long scale) that extends further over the body (in a similar fashion to a classical stringed instrument, like a cello. It is fitted with active pickups and has brass rod, inserted into the side of the fretboard (which is pretty thick) as position markers. The fretboard surface being unblemished and polished like obsidian. (...Well, that's a tad inaccurate..... Nothing looks like obsidian, other than.... Obsidian! ). I've been using metal and mineral powders to 'inlay' in jewlery for quite some time (where I first encountered the process) and used similar techniques in diorama modelling. YES BEN .... STOCK IT! STOCK EVERYTHING ! Great prog... Tumbs up, as usual.

[@omegaflameZ]

Oooh, please stock easy inlay! Looks like a lovely product and I'd love to pick some up along side some crimson stuff next time I place an order.

[@My2Drumsticks]

What’s the difference between Cyanoacrylate, Resin and Epoxy? And wouldn’t UV resin be better than all of the other choices?

[@tho2ea]

That powder allows for an amazing amount of detail! One obviously couldn't really inlay anything so small otherwise, it opens up a lot of possibilities! The design really pops so much more just adding those miniscule accents! (even more so under a finish I'm sure) Cool! I'm wondering if it isn't possible to suspend whatever flakes in lacquer, linseed oil or some combination in a ready mix, and "spackle" with a putty knife instead of "spooge" ;)

[@mac7622]

When using copper powder the very thin ca doesn’t soak in? Any ideas?

[@wearytraveler3524]

I saw you use some powders when you did the Grace Kelly's Eyes fretboard! That was absolutely stellar! Could you show us some more of the inlay work with a lean toward the realistic in some of your future builds? How about a butterfly inlay on a headstock or maybe a flock of birds around the pickguard! I love the detail you achieve and would really like to see more of it!

[@JSaltyfabricator]

Something I've been wanting to try is mixing mother of pearl chips/powder into blue/green tinted epoxy, and filling up a thin wall brass/any metal tube with said slurry, then cutting it into fret dots. I think it would result in a kind of faux abalone, or similar, with a metal outline. Awesome videos Ben! Cheers from Victoria, BC!

[@JSaltyfabricator]

Edit:Totally spooge the slurry into the tube!

[@JeffBarberDigideus]

Here's a question. I'm building a neck for an old charvel body I purchased. I know the usual way is to buy a neck and build the body but as I discovered, it's hard to find non standard scale lengths of charvel style necks. I did consider buying a neck and just replacing the fretboard with a custom scale (24.75" instead of charvel normal 25.5"). How about a video on building replacement necks for projects?

[@Danpastime]

If you are doing inlay on a solid opaque finish, how do you protect it during painting?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Anything that needs to be protected from finish is masked off

[@darylm.stephens9603]

Here's a question is it a good idea to build a solid body electric guitar out of one piece of wood like mahogany or walnut? This is with the neck also.

[@tjforgey7854]

How do stop the super glue from staining the wood?

[@ChristopherClaudioSkierka]

Hi, after you used the scalpol to make the groove, you then used a tool to dig some more wood out- what isthe name of that tool please?

[@ChristopherClaudioSkierka]

Hello, perhaps a silly question - but the powder of mother of pearl - would you say each grain is smaller than 1mm diameter? I have looked here in the UK and its not easy to find . I find some but each grain is stated at around 1mm, OR its a mica substitute (not a really good idea)

[@cmanson42]

Question: What should you look out for when selecting wood for a neck especially a "non-standard" woods? e.g. not maple or mahogany etc. I live in an area where getting access to normal guitar woods is very difficult and expensive. A $25 maple guitar neck blank is over $100 to ship from wood suppliers in the US.

[@A1BASE]

That it's been dried properly. If you're in any doubt I'd always suggest making a multi-laminate neck to release some of the tension and add strength. If you really want to go balls-out you could always add carbon fibre stiffening rods too...

[@adriancjones]

Nice vid. I’m doing acid etching on stainless steel. Will this process work on stainless steel do you think?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

email [e-mail] and ask Rikki to put you in touch with the correct luthier who may be able to respond to this question. UK based can call on 01300 348863 DC

[@feng125]

What about using innlay powders for fret board inlays? Will they have a grainy finish or grains start peeling after all that finger contact?

[@dwsetliff76]

Can you use glitter in the same way as inlay powders?

[@calvinbass1839]

Thank you. This video was very helpful. Have a blessed day.

[@BruceMurphy]

Isn't something like brass or copper susceptible to corrosion?

[@RavenRoss]

Hi Ben, first I want to say thank you for your videos and links. I love watching the videos and you’ve taught me so much and given me so many ideas I don’t know where to keep them all. Now for my question, I want to do a signature inlay in my fretboard, like B.B. King’s guitar Lucille, how would I carve the inlay? Or would it be better to have it cut on a CNC machine, laser cutter, water cutter, etc.? Thanks for all your help. Ross

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thanks for your support! Frankly a dremel type multiple in a small router base is all you need, especially at larger scales. I go down to 0.1mm bits though when needed and get the same level of detail as a cnc etc. B

[@189harvesterofsorrow]

Do you have any plans of making obscure body shape kits i.e. Explorer, flying V or ML? I recently bought an ML kit for $150 and...

[@HatchA_Makes...]

I wonder if the mother of pearl effect is lost if you were to grind those flakes into a finer powder via mortar & pestle..?

[@JeffGillis1]

I was wondering the same thing. I wonder if it might actually increase the effect?

[@tjforgey7854]

I tried crushing smaller,you tend to lose a lot of the iridecents of the pearl.the course pearl leaves voids after gluing,so you end up using course first,sand,and then use the fine.i all ways have the problem of super glue staining the wood a different color.then you sand to get rid of the stain,only to sand all your inlay out.my only solurtion,was to go deeper into the wood.you use more inlay,and it's not cheap

[@gerrykavanagh]

Hi Ben... Quick question if I may. I am planning to CNC my signature into a headstock with a 1.5mm endmill and fill with one of your inlay powders. Will the CA glue impede oil finishing in any way? I plan to stain first (brown) then CNC and fill with a mix of brass & aluminium to hopefully arrive at a colour that complements the yellow stain I will di the top of the guitar with.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

As you describe it is certainly a very safe way of doing this.. you should do tests and try and keep the superglue to the cavity as much as possible. Oil finish will happily be applied over the dried superglue, I worry about glue pulling stain up and would be tempted to inlay first as cleanly as possible, then sand back and stain, finish etc.. B

[@gerrykavanagh]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars many thanks Ben.

[@ranman58635]

Works with burning too I think.

[@MrTonydent]

What happened to Saturdays video that you told us about?

[@emm_arr]

Interesting once again, Ben. Thank you. Thanks also for the Iwasaki files and the Crimson handles you put on them - great tools! I'm curious as to the results of this used with the "superglue and baking soda trick".

[@Jasonguitarman]

Ben, I've thought about using acrylic powder, designed for nail art...? I wonder...?

[@The_Joker_]

Can you play “I’m a Bill Bailey offspring” in G?

[@TheTriplelman]

Ben, start a go-fund me account for your hair inlay.

[@davidkaiser810]

Hi Ben, what is that silver handled tool that you were using to enlarge the inlay cavity? Thanks, David

[@mykhough6614]

It's a scalpel, available from Amazon. That looks like a No.3 handle with a 10A blade. Incredibly useful tools.

[@-VeDa-]

Hey Ben, I have a question for you. I am building my very first self-designed guitar and I am happy with the shape but the body is a bit large so the weight is high. should I take some from the side now or do I make the body thinner? what would you do and why? greetings davy.

[@A1BASE]

Use a light wood. Create cavities in the body. Taper the sides to create a thinner profile at the edges. Shrink the overall body size while keeping the same shape.... all possible options. :)

[@JeffGillis1]

Ben, you asked for topics... so here is one that has been discussed but never fully address head on. What are to pros and cons of bolt on vs fixed neck? Which is more desirable in terms of a premium instrument and why?

[@tho2ea]

Here we go ;)

[@JeffGillis1]

He asked for topics.

[@tho2ea]

Yes, Ben encourages debates in the comments, that topic has been discussed countless times, but maybe not fully. This would be perfect for Christopher to divulge his best answer and what he tells students if anything.

[@JeffGillis1]

Indeed, it comes up in conversation a lot. But to get a Master Luthier's perspective on what was an innovation prompted by manufacturing -- does it still hold true today. Does a bolt on have more bite vs a fixed neck axe with more rich warmth and sustain? In fact I would really favor Christopher's insights into this along with the top shelf players as to what they feel and how they hear it from a performers perspective.

[@tho2ea]

Did it ever hold true? Yeah, it's cheaper, but that's not always worse. I agree, maybe ask Phil Walker for his opinion too! That'd be interesting!

[@glennwhitlock1272]

Did you say "spooge"? Ps. Please stock this. Also, this might look good in your carved, resin sunbeam guitar (yes, too late cos you've already taken the resin out twice, but, just saying)

[@jahyeet1137]

Iv always done this I’d just sand around the cavity and push all the dust made by the sanding into the cavity and filled it in with super glue I didn’t realize other did this 😂

[@JeffGillis1]

Where do you source authentic inlay materials such as gold, silver, pearl, black pearl, black onyx to be cut into shapes with a jewelers jig. The point being is that the inlay materials are actually genuine not some imitation crap.

[@189harvesterofsorrow]

It cracks me up everytime you say spooge

[@jarrodmelson7802]

Great video, thank you

[@CristobalMuerto]

Is there any particular respiratory hazard involved here? I'm thinking small particles of MoP lodged in your lungs might be a bad thing.

[@chrispatrick5715]

Yes Do not inhale mop dust...it's carcinogenic.

[@ChristopherClaudioSkierka]

...hi again - are you able to send me some to the UK? of course I will pay for it :)

[@davidvicars6688]

You remind me of an adult stewie from family guy going to take over the world lmao

[@kww1966]

Very nice!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you very much! B

[@craigjacob3704]

Beautiful

[@walterrider9600]

thank you

[@tom0ocadoo]

thanks

[@mspguitars6740]

You are using the wrong accelerator if it turns white. Try this: gluboost.com/accelerator/