How to add inlays?

[Alvaro Balderrama Chiappe]

Hello everybody. I've build several guitars, and i've never added inlays (I like how fretboards look with no dots). Now I'm finishing a flying v and I'd like to add a rectangle in the 12th.
I know hot to carve the fretboard for the inlay, but I don't know how to place it, glue it, polish it and cover it..

Any suggestion?

Thanks!!

-ABC

[harrison phipps]

I attach the inlay where I want it with double sided tape and with a sharp thin blade, scribe a line in the fingerboard around the perimeter of the inlay.  After removing the inlay, rub white chalk over the scribed line and wipe off.  You will have a white outline of where to remove fingerboard material.  Where it fits, I use a Dremel with a small downcut bit to remove wood.  Small micro chisels, X-acto and a dental tool are used for places the router bit will not reach. Fit the inlay until it is just proud of the surface, too deep and you will have to sand the entire fingerboard.  With 220 sandpaper, make a small pile of dust from a similar color piece of wood and mix with 5 minute epoxy.  Apply the epoxy mixture to the bottom and edges of the route.  When the inlay is pressed in, epoxy should ooze out all around the edges of the inlay.  After it is dry, sand the inlay flush with the fingerboard. With successively finer grits, by the time you get to 1500, it should be polished.  I do not cover it with anything.

[Russell Vance]

That's a very tasty look you have got there Harrison, an intentional modern art deco? - my compliments.  R.

[Alvaro Balderrama Chiappe]

Thank you very much Harrison Phipps!! I'll proceed like you said! and it's a beautyful inlay you did, congratulations man!

[Ned Knepp]

Be careful when sanding, Alvaro. Shell is a lot harder than wood.

Harrison, I agree with Rusty, That so clean it hurts. Nice job.

[Alvaro Balderrama Chiappe]

thanks for the advice!