Fretboard chips

[seeaxe]

Dear Brains Trust

I have been putting inlays into the next fret board and have a couple of small chips at the upper end where the fret markers are a bit big.
The chip extends from the diamond shaped marker to the adjacent fret slot.

I have filled most of it with ebony dust and CA glue and thats fine but I am edging ever closer to the fret slot. I have bound the fretboard so cannot go back and recut the slot if I fill it up with glue.

Stewmac sell what I need - teflon fret "dams" they call them, but they are in Ohio and I am not, so unless I wait for them to get here, I need an alternate solution.

Any suggestions as to what I can put in the fret slot to stop the CA bleeding into it and allow the ebony dust to collect up against it?

I have thought about using masking tape but not sure how I would get it in place.

Any thoughts welcome.

[Nick]

How wide are your slots Richard? 23 thou? I may be able to come up with some Teflon sheet that would fit in a small courier envelope.

[Allen]

Nothing that I know of will stick to the shiny side of packing tape. You could find something very close to the right thickness and put a layer of packing tape on either side and slip it into the slot.

[seeaxe]

Thanks guys

Nick, Ill check thickness when I get home tonight but I use the LMI fret saw,so whatever that is.

Cheers

[Nick]

Most of them are around the 23-24 thou mark Richard. The sheet we have may not be exactly that (I'll have to check) but if I get a bit thinner stuff you could pack it the same way as Allen with his tape suggestion. You could also perhaps try Allen's method first (on a bit of scrap), most 'common' CA's don't like sticking any type of plastics, if they do hold two bits together it doesn't take much force to 'crack' the joint apart.

[kiwigeo]

Richard,

Ive got some teflon purfling strips which you can sand to required width. Nick's in Chch so might be quicker for you to take up his offer.

PM me if you need the strips

Martin

[DarwinStrings]

I use ice cream containers to stop epoxy getting in my fret slots when doing inlay, it may work for CA as well and it fits the slots well. Just test it on the CA first.

Jim

[seeaxe]

Thanks again, team

I have an ice cream container in the shed so will try that first and if that doesnt work, I'll PM you Nick and take you up on your offer

Cheers

[Nick]

No worries Richard

[Matt Bach]

Great ideas guys and oddly enough perfect timing for me.

I got some teflon sheet from an art supply store that I've been using when refretting but I like the packing tape idea even more, thanks! Gonna give it a go today.

[mhammond]

The plastic used to make milk containers (jugs) is just the right thickness. Try it, it works well...
Mikey

[seeaxe]

I tested a new ice cream container and it was too thick, so found an old munted one and it was just right. I didnt want it so tight in the slot that it caused another chip pulling it out. CA glue is drying as we surf.

If you dont hear any more - it worked.

Mikey - welcome to the site mate, but if I was a moderator, I would have to ban you for that avatar. Hope you win some silverware this season so Mr Wenger keeps his job, You can have the FA Cup. I no longer have an interest, owing to the 4-0 pantsing from Fulham. Come on you Spurs!!!!

Thanks for all the advice!!

[mhammond]

Seeaxe:
Spurs had a very bad day today, sorry m8.