Red Pine Lap Steel - DIY

[Guvna19]

my idea for fretboard, used a piece of leftover floating floorboard and cut slots freehand as a trial with a multitool, then rubbed in some black paint. i have several pieces of flooring leftover and will trial some filler and other colours at work with more precision, so far i think the fret line could work, not sure about the markers i tried by drilling, anyhow if all fails , no loss and try somthin else

[Simon Barden]

A coloured filler of some kind normally works, otherwise black epoxy (mask the board off first) and then sand it back flat.

[Guvna19]

Routed out pups today , hopefully all good for fitting.
Carved up the neck/head-stock underside a bit too... still not entirely happy with that yet, but getting there. (hope it's less arousing now, Simon?....just kidding )


Happy Easter All
cheers Guvna

[Guvna19]

A coloured filler of some kind normally works, otherwise black epoxy (mask the board off first) and then sand it back flat.

Cheers Simon, thanks for the good advice! , I've given up on the laminate flooring fret-board, all the edges of the cuts seem to puff up once wet with paint.
Laminate doesn't sand back at all being plastic like, and cant really be painted/stained or oiled either. was fun trying anyway. back to the drawing board

[Fretworn]

I started my laptop on the weekend. I'll have to start a thread for it once I take some piccies and the hardware turns up.

[Guvna19]

Which glue for fretboard?

local hardware has Weldtite (water-based / clean up) or Sellys Durabond ( poly Urethane - Acetone clean up ) anyone used either ?

[Simon Barden]

I'd use a PVA glue if you ever think you might need to remove it (for whatever reason - e.g. you might drop something on it and want to replace it). Red label Titebond is the normal guitar building glue of choice, which is a PVA with some added resins.

[Guvna19]

A little more progress,
Cut the fret slots, going to stain it and fill slots with coloured epoxy or timber putty
Routed switch and pot hole and made an acrylic cover. need to round and polish edges
fashioned up the nut too my liking, need to polish also.
Ordered a black metal surround for the humbucker pup and a oval jack plate from china. still need to drill the jack hole.
cant wait to get some staining and clear coats on the red pine happening.

[Guvna19]

Finally some colour and gloss. Fretboard will be coated a few more times with a lower gloss and body just has a couple of coats of nitro sanding sealer to date, that will be high gloss soon

[wokkaboy]

great job Guvna, I missed the previous updates. Are the fret slots filled with anything ? Love your fret slot cutting jig !
Your routes look really well done too. Can't wait to hear it crank. What scale length did it end up ?