Got my computer issue solved and so I can catch up with the progress on these three tenors. A couple of days ago was fret board day.
So here are the fretboards just laid on their ukes, marked for tapering on the table saw.
And here they go through the saw, riding on a sled and clamped into the position that will cut the angle. 1 1/2 inch at the nut, 1 3/4 at the 12th fret.
Now cut to shape with the marker dots installed it is time to sand in the radius. I tape them to this board and have at it with the sanding block and 180 grit paper.
It is kind of a slow process but finally it is done and it is time to put in the frets.
You buy the frets in a long straight piece but when installing them in a radiused fretboard it is wise to bend them first. The piece shown was hand cranked through a simple fret bender.
Each fret is cut to approximate length and laid in its position. Now a bit of glue on the tang and each is tapped into its slot and taken to the press for the firm setting into the groove.
This is a Grizzley Co. arbor press adapted with a 12 foot radius fitting from StewMac. Does a great job.
Its a long tedious job to fret three ukuleles but it finally got done. Each fretboard has two unfilled slots. brads will be driven through a tiny hole in each slot to hold the fretboards in perfect position when they are glued to the necks. That is next. The missing frets will be placed after the fretboards are attached.
