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Cheap and easy fret marker inlays?

So, I am building my new neck. Its going okay. I drilled some holes for some inlays for the fret markers. I was going to use shirt buttons. I drilled the holes, I added some plastic x, which so far is really cool stuff. Then I let it dry. I proceeded to dig out the needed space of the puddy to put in my buttons and then super glue them in the holes. Needless to say, it was a disaster. So I dug out the buttons again and now I have natural wood filler in holes in a oak neck, at this time drying. So I was wondering, if once everything is dry, could I just maybe mix some clear glue with some paint and add to the said holes. As in, filling the holes with something I can see with kinda dying the glue. I have some of that clear glue that is good for making kids slime. I thought about just leaving the holes a natural color, but I want them a bit darker. I wish now I would have just gotten some darker wood filler. Has anyone else tried to fill in inlays with some sort of colored glue or paint?

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Permalink Reply by Valla Eiriksson on May 9, 2022 at 9:40am

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Jordan on May 12, 2022 at 9:55am

I have had good luck filling holes with paint or fingernail polish. Just as a variation. Toothpicks, bamboo skewers, chopsticks, screws and such as well.

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Permalink Reply by Valla Eiriksson on May 12, 2022 at 10:12am

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on May 12, 2022 at 10:14am

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Permalink Reply by Valla Eiriksson on May 13, 2022 at 5:30pm

Thank you :)

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Permalink Reply by Valla Eiriksson on May 13, 2022 at 5:40pm

My cheap n' easy solution: I stained my neck a charcoal color, and wanted my fret markers to match the mother-of-pearl-look tuning pegs. Went down to a local music store and got some heavier picks that had the same mother-of-pearl-look, used my trusty Home Depot multi-hole punch that happens to have a punch that was the perfect size.... then made any necessary adjustments up or down to the screws in the neck so that with a little glue, the discs would be perfectly level with the neck, and glued them in. Cheap n' easy and they look great :)