MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill., October 2, 2005 – The glow of fine pearl against ebony, a perfect curve inlaid in shiny silver, the unique symbol that reflects your own musical vision — for many musicians and guitar makers these visual details represent the icing on the cake that is a fine custom guitar. A custom inlay for a guitar is one way to create a truly personalized and one-of- a-kind instrument. The Dremel rotary tool offers musicians endless opportunities to make their instruments as expressive as their music.

“No matter which materials are used, what gives an inlay its unique essence and appeal is the artist,” said Andrea Ash, director of marketing communications for Dremel. “Dremel helps musicians and artists to create hand-made and hand-engraved inlay work.”

Creating Custom Inlays

One of the hardest jobs of creating a custom inlay is deciding on a design and the inlay materials. Whether using a pre-cut inlay or one in the shape of your choice, the inlay process will take patience and precision. To begin, tack the inlay material (mother of pearl, abalone, silver or wood) to the fingerboard with a thin spot of hot melt glue. Using a sharp scribing tool, trace around the inlay to scribe the shape of the inlay into the fingerboard. Consider tracing the design in pencil or practicing on a scrap piece of wood before beginning. Next, remove the inlay and use the Dremel XPR with a #650 ⅛” Straight Router bit to route the center of the scribed area to the thickness of the inlay. The ease and precision of the XPR will help you engrave a personalized, detailed recess. Once finished, dust off any dust or wood chips from the recess. Test fit the inlay into the recess, adjusting the hole wider or deeper as needed. Once the inlay is flush with the fingerboard, cover the bottom of the recess with glue or epoxy and insert the inlay. After the material has set completely, use the # 439 ⅜” Drum Sander to sand it down, switching to the #423 1” Cloth Wheel to polish the design and give the guitar a finished look.

About Dremel

Since inventing the high-speed rotary tool more than 75 years ago, Dremel has become the trusted name in high-speed rotary tool technology, providing creative solutions for hands-on professionals, homeowners, craftspeople and artists alike. The Dremel brand’s leadership in design and manufacturing has made it the top selling rotary tool in the world, a reflection of the company’s commitment to innovation and quality.

Today, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in Mount Prospect, Ill., Dremel continues to build upon this legacy with a full line of high-performance rotary tools, benchtop products, specialty tools, accessories and attachments, delivering the perfect solution for almost any job. Regardless of what the task may be, users quickly realize they can depend on Dremel to provide the satisfaction of a job well done.

For information on Dremel products, project ideas and problem-solving tips, visit us at www.dremel.com or call Dremel at 1-800-437-3635.

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