A job that must be done with absolute accuracy, cutting the slots for the frets requires a special saw blade in the table saw, and a notched template which works with a special sled.
An indexing pin in the wooden sled mates with the notches cut in the template. The fretboard is placed at the saw blade, small double back tape strips are placed on the fretboard and the template is carefully set on it, lined up perfectly against the sled.
The index pin is now moved to the 2md notch setting the fretboard in position to make the first cut. The sled is advanced forward and the fretboard is passed over the saw blade making the first cut. The fretboard with template taped to it is then advanced to the next notch and the second cut is made,
The fretboard and its attached template are moved notch by notch to the right, held firm by the index pin until the entire fretboard has received its notches, perfectly spaced thanks to the index pin and template.
the template does tenors on one side and soprano on the other. I have another template for baritone and concerts. Once you are set up it only takes about five minutes to cut a fretboard. The little spatula is for popping the finished fretboard off the template, the double backed tape is strong.
