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Topic: Lexan printing (for fretboard) recommendations? |
Duane Reese
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Posted 18 Mar 2012 12:58 pm |
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I'm looking for a company that can print out Lexan fretboards (like on Carter, GFI and MCI steels) with spatial accuracy, and boundaries that don't smear/run. I am planning on sending them an electronic drawing (probably with CAD) and having them take it from there.
Anyone use any companies for this that did a good job? |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 19 Mar 2012 2:05 pm
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| I can make recommendations, but I have to know what you're expecting to pay, which manufacturing method you prefer, and how many you're looking to have made. If you're not furnishing the blanks, costs will be considerable. Lexan fretboards can be done by machining and filling, with reverse decals, or by silk-screening. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 20 Mar 2012 2:10 am
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| There is a company that makes fretboards for many steel guitar builders. I don't know the name of the company but Franklin Guitar may be able to tell you as he has been having his made there for several years. Paul Sr told me about it when he had some new ones made there, that the company made fretboards for others. He named some of the steel companies that were using them, at the time. I won't name any guitar companies so I don't get it wrong. |
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Per Berner
From:
Skovde, Sweden
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Posted 20 Mar 2012 7:39 am
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Any sign maker shop would be able to do that with silkscreen printing.
The best way is to make your design in 100% scale with software such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Indesign, and just export a .pdf file, that's what they are used to. Most of them are not equipped to handle CAD files, which may add costs.
Be prepared to spend at the very least $100 for the first copy, excluding the plastic of your choice (the sign maker can probably supply that, too – I'd go for acrylic/plexiglass). |
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Joseph Meditz
From:
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Posted 20 Mar 2012 11:25 am
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I found this company a few years ago whilst searching for something else . However, I've never used them or any laser cutting company for that matter.
http://www.pololu.com/
And I agree with Per in recommending Plexiglas/Lucite over Lexan even though Lexan is stronger and does not shatter. There are health/safety issues in cutting Lexan. But if you really want a bullet proof fretboard, then by all means 1 1/2" thick Lexan is the ticket  |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 20 Mar 2012 11:45 am
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I agree that Lexan is overkill for a fretboard. Regular acrylic/Plexiglass will do. Like was mentioned, any printer that does silk screening (or a sign shop) can do the job. Check to see what kind of file they need from you, Cad files may not be good. I used to work for a plastic company (Tap Plastics) and we used to make displays for store which included signs. We used regular acrylic (Acrylite) for them, took them to the printer, etc...
Just for giggles, bullet proof glass is made from layers of laminated safety glass and Lexan that comes out to about 1-1/2 or 2 inches (I forget which). I worked for an automatic door company and we supplied door for the toll plazas at all the bay area bridges as well as the US Mint in SF. We had to supply the bullet proof glass. Real heavy stuff. Straight Lexan didn't meet the government specs for bullet proof door glazing.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Glenn Uhler
From:
Trenton, New Jersey, USA
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Posted 20 Mar 2012 1:34 pm Printing on Acrylic/Lexan
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The inks used to print on acrylic or Lexan usually have a pretty heavy solvent base. That is to get the inks to "bite" into the plastic. Conventional screen printing inks don't always have the solvents. Even epoxy inks might not stick!
_________________
1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H |
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Jerry Jones
From:
Franklin, Tenn.
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Posted 20 Mar 2012 8:12 pm
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Acrylic sheet will crack, especially if you have stress at screw holes. Lexan (polycarbonate) will bend but not crack. For silk screening on Lexan, I believe you must use “vinyl” screening inks if you want it to adhere.  |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 20 Mar 2012 11:59 pm
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Good point Jerry. But, we had many parts we made out of acrylic that were mounted to panels on machinery with screws and they never cracked as long as you just snugged them and not over tighten them. Lexan will work just fine though. It might be harder to find a small piece though. Regular acrylic might be easier to find a small piece of drop at a plastic store or fabricator.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Jerry Jones
From:
Franklin, Tenn.
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Posted 21 Mar 2012 7:20 am
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I think I have seen where Mylar sheeting is used for some fretboards. I know it is available in anti-reflective finish and on my guitars, the fretboards measure about .030 in thickness
Like Richard's experience, this type of material is frequently used for machine tool signage. |
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Joseph Meditz
From:
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Posted 21 Mar 2012 11:56 am
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| Quote: |
| Mylar sheeting is used for some fretboards. I know it is available in anti-reflective finish |
You raise a good point. Acrylic will be shiny and thick, certainly thicker than .030. I would guess that acrylic material is more expensive than mylar and costs more to process.
Heck if mylar fretboards were cheap enough you could change your fret board when you change your strings: black and orange for Halloween, red and green for Christmas  |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 21 Mar 2012 1:18 pm
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The thinnest acrylic (and Lexan) I ever encountered was 1/8".
If the silk screening covers the acrylic completely, it can be a matte type of finish and not necessarily reflective.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 21 Mar 2012 3:10 pm
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| Lexan is commonly available down to .030" thick. Conversely, I've never seen Mylar that was over .020" thick. Lexan is by far the best (strongest, toughest) material, but it will develop stress cracks if you countersink mounting holes and then overtighten the screws. In most cases, a double-sided tape might make a neater mounting job, but removal without damage might be a concern, too. |
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Ron Castle
From:
West Hurley,NY
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Posted 23 Mar 2012 4:17 am screen printing
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We do screen printing on lexan (polycarb)and acrylics but unless you're planning on doing at least several hundreds of pieces you should look for an alternative. (note: I am not offering the service here- just giving info)
Someone mentioned reverse stickers- that's one solution that could be made digitally- 1-offs or a few would be no problem.
Attaching the plexi is best done with adhesives and can be removed with a bit of heat without damage to the wood.
I have a Jim Boen lap steel with acrylic fretboard about 1/8" think reverse printed and glued to the wood- seems ok to me.
Don't send a cad drawing to a screen printer- cad's don't translate well into
graphics - best is a vector image like Illustrator or Corel |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 23 Mar 2012 5:00 am
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I want one like this!! |
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Per Berner
From:
Skovde, Sweden
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Posted 23 Mar 2012 5:22 am
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| FYI: Clear acrylic is available at least down to 2 mm ≈ 1/13th of an inch in thickness. |
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Ron Castle
From:
West Hurley,NY
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Posted 23 Mar 2012 5:29 am
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so is polycarbonate available in 1-2mm sheets, but it's quite flexible, & has a tendency to deform under varying temp & humidity conditions
Here's the fretboard on my 14str Fessy
reverse printing on clear vinyl
Last edited by Ron Castle on 23 Mar 2012 5:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 23 Mar 2012 5:37 am
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| Ron Castle wrote: |
| so is polycarbonate available in 1-2mm sheets, but it's quite flexible, & has a tendency to deform under varying temp & humidity conditions |
And melt too because of them thar "Hot Licks" I'm sure you'll be playin'!!!!!!
OK,I'm done with the BS,goin' back in my cage!!! |
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Ron Castle
From:
West Hurley,NY
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Posted 23 Mar 2012 4:56 pm
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Mr Beers
Would that snide remark be addressed to me?
I can tell you what you can lick ol' boy |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 23 Mar 2012 5:45 pm
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| Woha,what's this,I was complimenting you,I didn't mean to come off as being snide.I guess my sense of humor do escape some.Didn't mean to offend,sorry!! |
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Ron Castle
From:
West Hurley,NY
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Posted 24 Mar 2012 12:01 am
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| my mistake, didnt sound so good |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2012 6:07 am
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I wish I had something more constructive to add, but here it goes anyway...
Have you guys seen the Sho~Bud fretboard Mr. Bradshaw has? They are some kind of plastic that is very flexible. I sure like them. The material seems ideal to me although I may be missing the point.
I would really like a set of matte black ones to keep down on reflections from lights. On my white fretboards, they cast shadows under the strings and if you try to pick the shadow instead of the string, it does not sound as good.....
_________________
Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal |
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Paul Redmond
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 2 Apr 2012 7:59 pm
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Lexan IS a polycarbonate. Lexan is just the trade name as Kleenex is the trade name for tissues. The material is not as brittle as acrylic (aka as Plexiglas) which tends to shatter quite easily. FWIW a 3/8" thick sheet of Lexan will usually stop or deflect a .38 caliber bullet!!! Lexan (polycarbonate) is what is in the middle layer of your car windshields today.
PRR |
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