Stewart Golf ukulele kit, Assembly Instructions Manual

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Using a drill with a 1/16" bit, start each hole by briefly running
the drill in reverse . This will create an indentation in the wood
to center the bit so it doesn’t wander when drilling .
Hold the drill square to the surface, and drill each hole about
1/8" deep .
Turn the end of the side dot dowel against a piece of sand-
paper to clean up the end so it will slide into the hole . Then
dip it in Titebond glue and insert it in the hole .
Wipe away any excess glue, then cut the dowel off at the
surface of the wood using a fine-cut saw . After installing all
the dots, use a file to level them flush with the surface of the
wood . The result is a line of small round position markers .
Straighten the fretwire
Straighten the curved fretwire by working down the length
of it with both hands, carefully bending it straight . If it still
has a slight curve, that’s okay—it will straighten out when
you hammer the frets in .
Clamp the fretboard to a smooth flat work surface . You want
a solid table that won’t bounce or shake when you tap the
frets with a hammer .
Cut the frets
Lay the end of the wire over the first fret slot, so it protrudes
only very slightly over the edge of the board . Holding the
wire down with one hand, cut the fret at the other side of
the board . This creates a fret that’s cut to length for this slot,
with very little extra metal to file away from the ends later .
Use a fret cutter or side cutter to cut the fretwire .
Set the cut fret aside and move on to the next . Fasten a piece
of masking tape to your table, sticky side up, to keep your
cut frets in order while you work .
Install the frets
The top of the fret is called the crown . The strip that fits into
the fret slot is called the tang . Position the first fret so the
tang sits on the fret slot . Hold the fret in position by press-
ing it down at the center with one finger . With a hammer in
your other hand, tap the two ends of the fret into the slot .
When the ends are seated in the slot, you can remove your
finger and tap down the center of the fret . Do this for each
fret down the board .
Any hammer can be used, but a small one, like a fretting
hammer, works best . Don’t hit the fret or the board hard
enough to cause dents .
Glue the frets
Adding water-thin super glue under the frets, such as Stew-
Mac #10 super glue, keeps the frets seated . Such thin glue
can be introduced at both ends of the fret slot, and will pull
itself into the slot under the fret .
Before doing this, wax the fretboard surface to keep the glue
from soaking into the wood . Any soft wax, such as floor wax
or car wax will do . Use a soft rag to wipe it onto the board .
Turn the board on its side and run the thin super glue under
the fret slots . A small whip tip on the glue bottle will help
pinpoint the fret slot . Place waxed paper under the fretboard
in case the glue runs out the other end—so you don’t glue
the board to your table .
After adding glue to each slot, turn the board over and do
the same to the other side .