Removing neck dot inlays

[ANT5150]

Can anyone help with a tutorial on the safe way to remove neck dot inlays. I want to remove them from the neck and fill them in to leave the neck blank.

[Jaden]

by far the easiest way is to buy a set of matched drill bits and plug cutters.
drill out the dots using a 6mm bit - or maybe larger depending on the size of your dots and then taking a piece of timber of the same type, cut a matched plug using your plug cutter - glue in and sand level... job done

http://www.axminster.co.uk/category-...ugs-207896.htm

[ANT5150]

I was thinking of using wood filler. Would you recommend this?

[Jaden]

no, not if you wanted a good job...
although it could depend on your fingerboard wood... what is it ?
rosewood would show filler up to the extent that you may as well have not removed the dots - the filler will stand out a mile...
if its ebony, then you could get away with it possibly by blacking the board afterwards..
maple... no chance

[ANT5150]

It is rosewood.

[Jaden]

well, if I were doing it for a customer, I wouldnt be able to live with myself if I used filler, even around a proper plug... it would keep me awake at night
I would use a piece of scrap rosewood to cut the plugs and do my best to match the grain.. to ensure a perfect fit you can also cut the plug oversize and sand a taper on it before gluing it in and paring the excess away with a [very] sharp chisel.

[TAorama]

You should consider just replacing the fretboard if you want to do away with your inlays. I have yet to see a dot replacement that didn't look like crap, or wasn't at least totally obvious. Especially on rosewood. I agree with Jaden - if you HAVE to do it, use plugs, not filler.