Custom scale-length fret slotting templates...

I would call a local machine shop... they can probably do it for you.

 

a local guy here in the Seattle/Tacoma area has a digital end mill. I've had him slot a few 33" fretboards for me and have been quite pleased with the work and pricing. I've inquired about having him make me a slotting template and he's been willing to entertain the idea.

drop me an e-mail and I'll reply with his contact info

all the best,

R

 

I have a guy local to me who can cut fret slots with his laser engraver... only problem is that his limit is 24" long, which precludes scales longer than 32"

Seriously, though, if all you want is a template, print one out in fretfind, take it to a machine shop, and explain what you want. Machine shops can work with a very high degree of precision. Thousanths of an inch, or better...

 

Is the bed for the material closed by a wall at both ends?

 

No, but re-aligning the board precisely after doing a partial cut is problematic, at best, at least so says the laser operator. I'd consider *trying* it, but he said that his system just operates like a printer, with different line colors in the document indicating different laser strength/speed settings.

 

Realigning after a first cut can be done using transfer holes and a jig. If your board can be guaranteed to have one dead straight side, the jig needs only a) a base plate b) a wall/fence to mate with the straight side of the board, and c) a transfer pin (dowel, could be wood but fretting precision requirements would suggest use of a steel machine dowel).

Prepare your board with one straight side, and two holes a precise distance apart. Thru holes if you can locate them on a portion of the board that will eventually be sawn away, or shallow blind holes from the backside if they must remain. (I this case, the dowel will need to project only lightly.)

Prepare two cad files. Half the lines on the first and half on the second. Shift the lines of the second file to the left by a distance equal to the distance between your two transfer holes.

Position the board on the jig, nut end to the left, with the dowel in the leftmost transfer hole, and cut the lines from the first cad file. Then shift the board to the left, onto the second (rightmost) hole, and cut the second set of fretlines.

Note this can also be done with jig two dowels and no jig fence, and three or four holes in the workpiece.

 

Just discovered this thread. Contact me via PM or email if you are still interested in a source for custom fret templates.

Dwain Wilder

 

Welcome to Talkbass, you can't solicit sales here if that's what you're thinking. Plus, this thread is four years old.

 

Zombie threads require permission from George Romero or Rodent....LMAO

 

R

 

^^^NICE!!!!