Measurements On Dark Woods

[ozziebluesman]

Just finished a Ukulele fingerboard made from Indian Rosewood and while cutting the slots I missed a marked measurement by a mm. Damm!!! It is on the 18th fret so I am not too concerned. Except I know it's a mistake and I hate that!

So what do you all use to mark out darker woods to make it easier to see the measurements? Pencil is just too hard to see unless you have exceptionally good light!

Cheers

Alan

[Lillian]

Yellow pencil works best for me. Or you can make the mark with a awl or marking knife and then go over the mark with chalk. Wipe away the excess and the chalk will stay in the grove or hole.

[jeffhigh]

For marking out fretboard slots I use wfret to print a paper template, check the distance to the 12th fret (for printer error) and adjust scale input if needed
I then lightly glue it to the centre of the fretboard, mark through the paper into the board with an awl and pull off the paper.
I cut with a handsaw in a mitrebox and find that the awlmark is great to line up the saw on. Chalk like Lillian suggests would be great.

[sebastiaan56]

I believe Allen did a tute here viewtopic.php?t=603

[Allen]

I've got your disease too Alan. I will use a white pencil to mark the spacing. Double check. It's dead easy to get the spacing wrong, so I find that marking them out with the white pencil and then standing back for a look will show if something is off very quickly.

Then I scribe the line with a sharp scalpel and rub in some chalk.

[Mark McLean]

I was using a white chinagraph pencil, which leaves good marks but it is hard to get to a fine point, and they are expensive. Since Allen's tutorial I have used the scalpel and chalk trick - very happy.

[jeffhigh]

My Awl mark ends up being pretty much the width of the saw blade so it is hard to miss. I just cover it with the saw blade and I am centred.

Measuring and marking each fret position with a steel rule? I am sure I could not do that acurately with my over 50 eyes

[Pete Brown]

Hi all

I picked these ballpoint pens up at the local art supplies store.



The tip is 0.7mm - fine enough for many tasks - and the ink can be removed with a damp cloth.

[DarwinStrings]

Hi Peter and welcome

Nice tip, I have used my kids white pencils so far but after your post I am really annoyed with my partner as she has worked in a Art Supply place for 15 years. Hmmmm or should I blame myself for never asking.

Jim

[Allen]

Welcome to the forum Peter. Good tip about the pens. I could use them for all kinds of things. Gotta go into town and get me some.

[ozziebluesman]

Thanks everyone for your tips. The awl and the chalk and the white ball point pen are great tips.

Allen, i missed your tutorial.

Cheers

Alan