> > 2. For some reason that is not clear to me, I think he was also worried
> > about cracking or breaking the wood in the fretboard.
>
> Hmmm... Interesting. I can't think why either, but I'll be cautious of that.
The fret to fret distance in a mandolin is so small that there is a good
chance of cracking the wood just from the sideways force of pressing a
fret into the slot.
John Starrett