Putting fret markers on "binding"?

[RickPick]

I bought a cheap, cheap used-but-not-loved Rover mandolin to practice messing around with set-up. Sound ain't much but action is now decent, and I can use the mandolin for kick-ball practice when I'm not picking. Problem is, there are no fret markers on the white "binding" (if that's the correct term) that goes along the neck. I'm surprised at how much grief this causes me! No doubt, the "binding" is some sort of plastic. I've tried using a pen or pencil to add marks at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, etc frets, but they wipe off quickly. Any suggestions, please?

[Dave Fultz]

I’d use a burr on a Dremel to put a few divots on it. Fill with black paint or even black wax.

It’s low end mandolin, so ...

[Walt]

The fret dots are generally inlaid into the side of the binding/fretboard. Here is the material.
Drill a hole the diameter of the material, insert the plastic rod, and cut it flush.

EDIT: Also, at the link above, if you scroll down you'll se a video showing the process.

[MikeEdgerton]

Frank Ford has this article on his www.frets.com site.

[AndyV]

I’d use a burr on a Dremel to put a few divots on it. Fill with black paint or even black wax.

It’s low end mandolin, so ...

Or any other colour. Crayons melt too.

[Folkmusician.com]

Drill holes, glue in a plastic rod, trim, sand, polish.

Use super glue. Shoot for a tiny bit of squeeze out.

[Mandobart]

My old Regal reso lacked fret markers in the plastic fretboard binding. First I did dots with a sharpie, but they quickly wore off. So I took a 1/8" drill bit, made a small divot at each desired location, than filled in with sharpie. Hasn't rubbed off yet.

[pops1]

I have put dots on by punching a hole in masking tape and centering the hole in the tape on the binding and using fingernail polish. It has stayed on for 20+ years but can come off if you want. I did this on an old vintage instrument that I did not want to alter. The dots that have been mentioned are easy to install and permanent and I would also use them.

[EdHanrahan]

FWIW, guitar legend Danny Gatton glued rhinestones as fret markers on his Telecaster, that could be both seen and felt when playing in dark bars. Hey, maybe Stew-Mac can develop a special Bedazzler!

[MikeEdgerton]

I believe David Crosby had blue LED's for his. I'm thinking Rick Turner had something to do with it. That's way back in my mind.

[Jess L.]

... I took a 1/8" drill bit, made a small divot at each desired location, than filled in with sharpie. Hasn't rubbed off yet.

Same here, except I used an even smaller drill bit (one of the little tiny ones that I ordinarily use for pilot holes and such).

As with just about anything that I drill, I lightly center-punched each location *before* drilling, to make sure the bit got started in the desired location.

[RickPick]

Thanks for these ideas. They all sound quite reasonable, and the mandolin itself is not much.

[David L]

I have several instruments that have added side fret markers. Drill the right size hole and glue in a knitting needle. Then slice it off with a razor. Knitting needles come in different sizes and colors.

[Bob Visentin]

Try playing without looking at your mandolin.

[Pete Braccio]

Try playing without looking at your mandolin.

Try posting without being a jerk.

[Ron McMillan]

I have put dots on by punching a hole in masking tape and centering the hole in the tape on the binding and using fingernail polish. It has stayed on for 20+ years but can come off if you want. I did this on an old vintage instrument that I did not want to alter. The dots that have been mentioned are easy to install and permanent and I would also use them.

I've been thinking of doing precisely this on an expensive instrument of mine that I don't want to take a drill to. Thanks for the vote of encouragement.

Another option for the OP is using stickers. These are an affordable option, and I suppose you could cover them with a clear lacquer if they were wearing out too quickly.

[Phil Goodson]

I have put dots on by punching a hole in masking tape and centering the hole in the tape on the binding and using fingernail polish......

I did that on an ebony fingerboard of a bass (no binding) and found it hard to get nice smooth edges on the dot.

Laying the instrument on its side with edge up and level allowed me to put a small dot of fingernail polish on the wood and gravity and surface tension automatically made the dot assume a circular shape with smooth edges. Let dry completely before moving anything. YMMV

[pops1]

I did that on an ebony fingerboard of a bass (no binding) and found it hard to get nice smooth edges on the dot.

Laying the instrument on its side with edge up and level allowed me to put a small dot of fingernail polish on the wood and gravity and surface tension automatically made the dot assume a circular shape with smooth edges. Let dry completely before moving anything. YMMV

The drier the polish gets the more it sticks to the tape, I use the tape to get universal sized dots, but remove is very soon so it will level itself out as you did by hand.