Hey all.  Just wondering what you might recommend for an easy but lasting fret dot.  I can't decide on whether to paint the dots, use stickers, paint a sticker then place, or do some type of inlay.  I was leaning towards using some simple round stickers then clear coating on top of that.  What do all of you usually do?

D

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Some kind of dremel cutoff tool works best

I use a 1/8" hole punch on medium guitar picks for side markers -- so they match the fingerboard ones.

Mark Werner said:
I've used the hole-punch method to punch nice, round markers out of flatpick material. Get those big Fender triangular picks and you can do a whole guitar...
I used a Forstner bit (1/4") to drill the holes, using my drill press for precise depth. They look good and fit flush.

For the side markers, I use one of those hairbrushes with the thick plastic "bristles" with the little knobs on the end.
These are tapered, so I just cut them off, stick them into a 1/6" (or so) hole with some glue, and then cut them off flush with a razor blade when dry. They look quite professional....
Your markers are so freaking cool but that's gotta be expensive, no? Brass is so damned expensive these days. I don't even wanna tell you what I spend on .454 shells (no primers).

Godzilla said:
You could use bullet casing ends, that's my favorite. 38 special seems to work the best for when you get down lower on the fretboard on the last few frets. Check out my page cause I couldn't figure out how to link up a picture. I get alot of positive reaction from those who see them used.

Good luck.
Josh, just go to your local firing range and ask for 38 special shells or .223 shells. Everyone seems to be more than willing to help out when they see what they are used for.

Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) said:
Your markers are so freaking cool but that's gotta be expensive, no? Brass is so damned expensive these days. I don't even wanna tell you what I spend on .454 shells (no primers).

Godzilla said:
You could use bullet casing ends, that's my favorite. 38 special seems to work the best for when you get down lower on the fretboard on the last few frets. Check out my page cause I couldn't figure out how to link up a picture. I get alot of positive reaction from those who see them used.

Good luck.

I used colored plastic coat hangers for dots on top and colored pencils for the side markers.

I use a wood burning tool/pen, very durable and effective, for both the top and side markers.

I use no. 6 x 5/8" flat head screws, counter sunk into the fretboard for markers. I use linoleum nails into pilot holes for side markers.

I bought a couple of 100 count packs of number 2 screws in silver and gold (like the ones you'd use for tuning machines) and have been using those. They are counter sunk and my plan was to fill the holes with clear epoxy... but haven't gotten around to it yet.. so they are backed out a little bit to be flush.  I keep skipping that step and going to the next build. lol

I really like the screws though, I think they give more of a downhome look.

I tend to use countersunk screws rather than round head screws. 

Other things

Electrical Copper wire

Whipper snipper line

Q tip and lollypop shafts. 

Chop sticks both square and or round ends-I use the square ends for nuts. 

Depends on the color of the fretboard you're using. If it's dark wood: simple wooden dowels - drill a hole, hammer them in (if they don't stick by themselves put some glue into the hole first), saw them off, sand them flush with the fretboard. For side dots wooden toothpicks (or skewers if you want the dots a little bigger) work really well (make sure they're not bamboo - that doesn't look good when sanded flat).

And most importantly: Do it before you fret the fretboard! (Sounds stupid, I know, but I'm speaking from experience... It's a real pain to sand the fret dot dowels between frets...)

I've used wooden dowels and skewers like previously mentioned, bought and used abalone, and plan on trying some acrylic neon tubes.

I've found knitting needles, and coat hangers give a great variety of diameters and colours, just pound them in and sand flush

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