fretting done smoothly

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Permalink Reply by MadGomer on February 15, 2012 at 3:56pm

Jan, somewhere on this site a couple of years ago I found two helpful hints that have made this aspect of fretting very easy. First tip was to take a pair of side cutters and grind off enough material on the outside face of the tool (about 1/16") so they cut the wire nearly flush to the fretboard. Second big tip was to take a scrap of 2X4, maybe 6" long, and cut a lengthwise slot about a half inch deep, just wide enough to make a snug fit for a flat file. I cut mine about thirty degrees off vertical. After you trim your frets with the modified side cutters, just lay the 2X4 flat on the fretboard with the file riding along the edge of the neck & simply rub it full length until the frets are cleaned up. I run it until the file starts getting into the neck wood to help soften the corner on the edge of the fretboard. Very satisfied with results.

Permalink Reply by Tom Caneschi aka TC on February 16, 2012 at 5:43pm

Like MadGomer said Block of 2x4x 6inches long cut 1/2 " deep slot at 30 to 45 degrees tap in flat file glue if needed ...

Permalink Reply by Marcus P. Clarke on February 15, 2012 at 4:17pm

Fretting for me was the hardest of all chores for CBG's. I tried all sorts of methods and finally bought the fretting saw from McDonalds. You can set the depth with the guide and then I use a small square as a guide for the saw starting at the highest to the lowest on my pre-marked scale frets. I use a dremel cut-off wheel to trim the ends on both sides of the neck. I finish by using a small fine to dress the frets smooth to the feel of my hand sliding up and down the neck. Sometimes you just need to spend the money for a special tool that makes things easy...Marcus

Permalink Reply by Jan Westphal on February 15, 2012 at 4:29pm

Sounds good and easy, I'll try this. Thanks!

Marcus, no probs with the slots so far, I got a japanese saw that makes perfect slots - the guide for the depth I made myself. Will get a proper file tomorrow and try the trick with the 2x4 mentioned by MadGomer.

Permalink Reply by Jim Olean (JimO) on February 15, 2012 at 9:55pm

Jan: in my past woodworking experience I have used a belt sander allot so with CBG's I have a belt sander that can be clamped upside down.  Takes some practice but you can control the bevel or slightly round it. Trick is to don't stop.

JimO

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on February 15, 2012 at 10:19pm

yeah me too, sander every time.  round the edges over its real nice, just be careful not to overdo it

Permalink Reply by Pat Cook on February 16, 2012 at 9:33pm

Not necessarily the right way, but this is what I do. Sorry the photos are in reverse order. I'm not very computery.

Permalink Reply by bizzaro guitaro on February 24, 2012 at 8:15pm

nice job. how do you put the fret markers in? They look perfect.

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on March 2, 2012 at 8:18pm

absolute easiest and quickest way to finish the frets is on a table top belt sander... I can finish all the frets on a neck in about 30 seconds....

 

Long up the videos on the "Strum Stick" website, it will show a strumstick being fretted and finished using this method.

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

Permalink Reply by Jan Westphal on March 3, 2012 at 2:02am

Thats about the method I tried and it worked out, sort of. Needs some practice I suppose... I was going to build the file-woodblock-tool but couldnt find a decent file in my local store and clamped a belt sander on the table. There are some groves in the wood now and some of the frets are still sharp edged but I'll keep trying - next one is going to come out better. Hopefully.