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Anyone know where I can get 1/16" black plastic side dot material at large quantities?
Thanks

Well, Stewmac sells it in 6" lengths, with a significant discount for 24+ pieces (which is a heck of a lot of side dots!)
I expect they'd do better if you wanted a lot more.

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Dave
Milton, ON

I want to buy wholesale, not retail, if I can find it...

I've purchased plastic dowel rods before, though I don't remember where. I know that might not be as helpful as you would like but the fact is that they are out there to be found. I was originally planning on using it for something else, but I remember them being pretty darn cheap, and I would think the 1/16" variety would be really cheap because they aren't giving you much plastic at all. Internet search, they are out there. Good luck, and maybe re-post a link on this thread when you find them.

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http://www.sixgunguitars.com

I've got a whole spool of it. I haven't used it in awhile, so I can't recall if it's 1/16" or if it's 2mm, but if you're interested in actual wholesale quantities of the stuff then get in touch and we can figure something out.

McMaster has ECTFE in cord form pretty cheap, but if you're planning on using it for side dots I'd worry about using Teflon's baby brother

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Black is easy. I use nylon Weed Eater line.

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John

To John, way to think outside the box,well done. I love creativity and after all necessity is the mother of invention.

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http://www.sixgunguitars.com

There are also green, white and red weedeater lines that I've seen at our local hardware store. There is even one that is in the shape of an asterisk for improved eating of weeds. If you were using an ebony binding you could drill the hole the diameter of the asterisk points, glue in place then fill with black (insert your favorite filler material), level and... voila...asterisk side markers.
Do I have too much spare time?

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Hank Mauel

Weedwhacker line. Genius.

As far as outside the box thinking goes, how would something like copper wire work for a side dot?

Or even brass or nickel for that matter.

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Jim Hansen

I have used brass wire. Works great. Taylor used (or uses) aluminum wire on the dark bindings.

The white is usually translucent, which can look dingy when installed in a black fingerboard. BTW, I bought a similar product from Stew Mac years ago, and since I had already experienced the problem, I sent it back.
I do have some 0.08" cream-colored line that is very nice for dark bindings. It is especially useful for Gibson type guitars, or when the user thinks the 1/16" dots are too small. I have also used the red and green on white or ivoroid bindings.
The only problem with nylon is that it is tough to trim flush. A single-edge razor blade is the ticket. I sand it with 220 to roughen the surface by pulling it through folded sandpaper. I install it with CA and cut it proud with fret nippers. The nippers mushroom the end, but a trim with a chisel or razor blade will restore the cylindrical shape, allowing you to continue installing dots.

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John

How about the fiberglass that's really reflective and bright like on daytime sights for pistols? Might be pricey but you would never lose sight of the side dots that's for sure.

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http://www.sixgunguitars.com

I use #18 copper wire available at ace hardware or similiar sized wire in silver color

I just used 16 ga (1/16" dia) brass finishing nails today for side dots. Worked perfect. 3 nails does all the side dots with double at the 12th fret.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

How about spaghetti?? Would make all those free tomatoes people keep throw'in on the stage useful.

P.S. Nice dots Rod

Cheers

Kim

Shameful waste that Filippo!!! An inch is near wide enough to run a herd of lasagne....of course fencing is more of an issue but there's a lot more money in em in the 'long' run

Cheers

Kim

Very timely thread. I've been struggling with what to do about my side markers, and I'm going to try John's great idea