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Curved frets into a flat fretboard - can I do it?

Well, its a while since I asked a silly question so here's another one. I can't find this topic anywhere but I bet it has been asked before. If so I apologise.

I have fretted my last few instruments and manage to get slots that allow the wire to be pushed in good and tight without glue, but up to this point I have used fret wire that comes in small straight lengths.

I want to buy fret wire from a UK supplier (due to cost) and want to buy in moderate quantities (5 to 20 metres). All the wire that I see sold in these lengths is coiled. Does anyone have experience of fretting flat fretboards with this sort of wire?

Your help would be much appreciated.

All the best.

John

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jarmo Katajisto on October 13, 2011 at 8:22am

Hi John

I say, you can do it.

I have installed the curved strips on a flat fingerboard, with a few hammer strokes tapes sink sawn slot without any special problems. And I no longer even the glue used.

A small piece of wood I've used a hammer to help, so that the hammer strikes do not go directly to the fret or the fingerboard.
Latest curved frets i bought from C.B.Gitty and installed them on my latest 3 - string "Elovena" tin box guitar

regards

Jarmo

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on October 13, 2011 at 8:34am

Hi Jarmo.

Thanks for the information. That's really good to know.

All the best and thanks again.

John

P.S. I love the guitar in the photo. Adding the headstock graphic was a really good move.

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on October 13, 2011 at 9:01am

Go for it John. If you think you need to, make a jig to semi-flatten them BUT I wouldn't hammer them in unless you are really good at hammering frets. I have a device that I use to press in frets. Actually a bastardized drill bit that has a 20cm+/- flat area that is about right for pressing in frets. I will try to get a pic to you soon.

I kinda find that fret wire that is slightly bent anyhow makes for nice ends. The ends tend to droop a little, thus making them feel tighter onto the fingerboard at the ends. Almost like a spring.

-WY

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on October 13, 2011 at 9:42am

Hi Wes.

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that other people are using curved frets with flat fretboards.

All the best.

John

Permalink Reply by Travis "SlackJack" Woodall on October 13, 2011 at 10:08am

John, I buy my fretwire from Grizzly Industrial in 18" lengths. It is curved and works fine. I tap it into place with a plastic tipped mallet and use the cross cut of a piece of hickory and tap that with the metal end....flatten it right out.....and never use glue. Fret saw all the way. The wood will hold the frets in place.

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on October 13, 2011 at 10:32am

Hi Travis.

That's just the sort of thing I was hoping to hear. I appreciate the information.

All the best.

John

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on October 13, 2011 at 10:41am

Grizzly had em? Go figure. Nice to know. A little thinner tang than Ben's or StewMac's but usable none the less.

-WY

Travis "SlackJack" Woodall said:

John, I buy my fretwire from Grizzly Industrial in 18" lengths. It is curved and works fine. I tap it into place with a plastic tipped mallet and use the cross cut of a piece of hickory and tap that with the metal end....flatten it right out.....and never use glue. Fret saw all the way. The wood will hold the frets in place.

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on October 13, 2011 at 10:42am

One more thing to add:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/3-In-1-Fret-File/H7514

-WY

Permalink Reply by David L. on October 14, 2011 at 2:46am

Hi John,

I had a quick look and tonetech sells 20m of flat wire (of 600mm straight lengths) for £38.46 (not sure about postal costs)

also it may not be the height etc that you want http://www.tonetechluthiersupplies.co.uk/Jescar-Fret-Wire/Nickel-Si...

other coils cost between £63 to £74 per 20m coil or about £1 - £1.14 per foot (taking 20m = 65 foot approx) plus postage.

Unless you have found a cheaper supplier snow cauldron on ebay sells it in 2 foot lengths (flat) for between £1.95 (97.5p per foot) and £2.45 (£1.25.5 per foot) and the postage is a flat £2.20 http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/snowcauldron/m.html?hash=item2314af66b2&a... so buying a big coil at these prices doesn't save much especially as you are used to successfully making CBGs with flat fret wire.

I realise it doesn't answer the initial question but I thought the alternative options may be worth a look.

Regards

David

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on October 14, 2011 at 4:32am

John, here is a sketch (google Sketchup) of a fret press idea I have. If you want, I will send you the sketchup file.

-WY

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on October 14, 2011 at 6:11am

Hi David.

Thanks. There are some useful links there. I had a look at the Tonetech site. I noticed that gold fret wire is a bit more that £1 more (for 20 metres) than the nickel and is harder but not as hard as stainless. This looks like a good deal I think. Any oppinions about using gold wire?

Hi Wes.

Thanks. I will contact you through the personal messages with my email address, which is also on my new website (the one I mentioned in a blog post today, plug, plug) which is www.roadkillmusic.co.uk.

Thanks again and all the best.

John

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on October 14, 2011 at 6:26am

Ellwood, due to some other instances whereby someone else took an idea of mine and is now selling it online as part of their product line, I would rather send it to you via email. I will gladly share the plans and ideas, but on the condition that it NOT be reproduced for commercial purposes.

-WY