- 1). Insert the plug cutter into the drill press. Lay a blanket on the drill press table. Remove the strings from the guitar and lay it face up on the blanket. Stack wood blocks under the neck of the guitar to bring it level and perpendicular to the plug cutter. Visually leveling it will be sufficient.
- 2). Measure and center a mark horizontally and vertically with a pencil between each fret you want to have an inlay for. Position the plug cutter directly over the first mark.
- 3). Place a piece of tape on the cutter to mark the 1/16 inch measurement. Turn on the drill press and lower the plug cutter very slowly until you have penetrated the neck to a depth of 1/16 inch. Raise the cutter back up and turn off the drill press. The plug cutter will cut a circle around a center core of wood that will remain intact. Drill all of your remaining holes in the same manner.
- 4). Chip out the inside of the circles that the plug cutter made in the wood. Use the tip of a 1/8-inch chisel to gently scrape out the holes to a depth of 1/32 inch, leaving the remaining 1/32 inch of circular cores intact. Glue will fill the gaps around the cores.
- 5). Pick up a mop inlay and place one in each hole. They should stick up out of the holes 1/32 inch or less. Scrape out more material until you get this measurement or each inlay fits almost flush, then remove the inlays.
- 6). Mix the epoxy to the manufacturer's directions. Place a small drop of it in each hole. Place the mop inlays into the holes. Stretch a piece of masking tape over each inlay and around the neck, pulling down on it as you go to apply pressure to the inlay. Let the epoxy dry for 24 hours.
- 7). Remove the tape. If needed, sand the mop inlays flush using 180-grit sandpaper in your fingers. Sand them again with the 400-grit sandpaper until they have a dull sheen. Apply a thin coat of lemon oil to the areas that you sanded. Let it dry for one hour and wipe it off.
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