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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on March 23, 2014 at 11:55pm

????? This site only works for me half the time.....

Anyway.

Howdy Nation.
For those of you who make radius fretboards. Will I need to curve the fret wire? If so how?

Thanks!
Cause the Rat

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Permalink Reply by Dan Mullen on March 24, 2014 at 9:58am

A radius in the fret wire will keep the ends from trying to pull out of the fret slot.  You can make a diy fret bender.  There is a video on utube that I followed to make mine and it works great.  Here is a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_DWA-gBAUk

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 24, 2014 at 1:32am

To make sure it fits snug and stays put, you can carefully bending it by holding the tang with pliers, and bending the wire a bit.

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Permalink Reply by Brendan deVallance on March 24, 2014 at 1:55am

The pros have a tool that does this, but im sure it can be done by hand. Maybe build a jig to form it to. hammer it down a bit.

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/fretwire-bender-mk1-2?xg_source...

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on March 25, 2014 at 11:28am

Awesome! Thanks for the help! Looks like I need to find where I can get the stuff to make a fret bender.

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on March 25, 2014 at 2:52pm

Just hammer it in. Make sure it is seated on the slot and hammer gently.mit will bend and stay.

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on March 27, 2014 at 8:06am

I am radiusing my boards from 12" to 20" with hand made sanding blocks, so the radius is not perfect. I have been using nothing but standard, straight, medium/medium and narrow/medium wire.

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Permalink Reply by Comrade Paul on March 28, 2014 at 11:21am

Lot of good posts here, let me give another perspective.  I looked into buying fretwire benders, DIY ones from lowes, all that. Then I slapped myself and realized you can buy radiused fretwire and it doesn't cost that much more.  I radius by hand by sanding and the pre-bent wire it works like a dream on it.  the wire is radius tighter than the board and that's a good thing, as it seats the fret much better and keeps it there. Often it seats so well and consistently that I don't have to level the frets anymore.   I use a very light hammer and put 4-5 strips of masking tape over the business end and it works fine.  Good luck however you choose.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on March 28, 2014 at 3:43pm

Totally awesome Nation! Thanks for all the response!

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Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on March 29, 2014 at 11:21am

I get my fret wire in rolls http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/281230885021?nav=SEARCH and put it on flat fret boards. I always put a drop of superglue on the ends as well just in case.
I did read one "tip" that recommended using over radiused fret wire by hammering in either end and then hammering home the middle, which is supposed to shift the retaining tangs sideways a bit and make them harder to pull up. Sounds like an over analysed and only faintly plausible justification but I do it anyway and it seems to do no harm.

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Permalink Reply by Naomi Prasad on July 31, 2014 at 5:24am

Yes it does work on a radius fretboard. i saw one or two tutorials as well, This site has good articles  http://www.vipcubancigars.com/blog/

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