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Frettin over frets...

I've been searching for a while now for a good item to use for frets (besides fret wire...duh) I've used toothpicks and copper wire, both of which worked ok. The problem was making a groove to seat the fret in, my miter saw makes a groove that was smaller than the copper and the toothpicks so they both kinda sat on top of the fret board. My attempts at widening the grooves with a small file resulted in even less accuracy for fret placement.

I do this for fun, so the idea of using non-guitar parts and not having a million dollar wood shop, is a large part of the attraction. So anyway, while I stomped around the shop because my frets were not cooperating, I found a whole brick (2000) of finishing nails for my air nailer. I have tried these before but the 18ga. nails were a lil on the small side for what I was after. As luck would have it, some dummy bought the wrong size nails...these are 16ga!

A few light taps to seat 'em and I may not even need to use glue. I aint been this stoked since I found these cursed home-made instruments...now every one is gonna get frets. I knew I saved all this junk for a reason...:)

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on September 8, 2009 at 6:12am

2000 divided by 20 = 100 guitars!

Post a close up photo?

I used cotter pins for the first 20 or so builds, and they still have a place in my heart. Mostly because they come in brass.

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Permalink Reply by Jkevn on September 8, 2009 at 6:30am

I'll post a pic when I can. These nails are rectangular, not round, and fit nicely. Saw a deep groove and seat them flush for looks, saw a shallow groove and make a functional fret. I should have brought my stuff to work.....

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Permalink Reply by Starfish, darling on September 8, 2009 at 6:37am

Just last night, I used some brass rod, maybe the equivalent of 16g wire, but hardened, for frets; used my razor saw to start the gouge, and then used a very fine triangular file to widen the fret 'furrow'.

I will have to glue them in, but that's for safety - they set in real nicely. Filing the ends will be a problem - I don't want to nick the side of the neck.

Unfortunately, my builds were going so nicely, I got overly confident and to the point where I put down the 'proof-of-concept' build and went straight on with the one that was to be a gift.

Long story short, I have to make a new neck for this one. Might make a ukelele out of the neck I screwed up.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 8, 2009 at 7:21am

You can get an inexpensive set of needle files that have triangle, square, flat, and round files that work really well for shaping fret slots.

I have used finishing nails, and super glued them in, but they keep falling out. I made my grandson a kid sized one and I used bamboo skewers from the grocery store as frets. They probably wouldn't hold up to continued playing, but would be OK for an occasional player.

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on September 8, 2009 at 8:27am

My cotter pin ones were held (or not held!) with crazy glue, and they pop off with heavy use. I'd use epoxy if I tried it again. There are two lost frets here by my keyboard, waiting to get stuck back on.

I sent a guitar to a summer camp and it was returned with half the frets gone. Granted, that was HEAVY use, but still. If I"m sending them out into the world, I've shifted to "real" fretwire. I know, it goes against everything I stand for, but there you are.

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Permalink Reply by StarGeezers on September 8, 2009 at 9:33am

Real fret wire is the best ... frets are no place to skimp cause' they have to be just right, or the CBG won't play right ... Here's a tip for getting Real fret wire to seat fully .... After the slots are cut , use a small V file to widen the top of the slot slightly , then you can bang the frets home , and have them sit completely flat on the board , no spaces/gaps ...

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on September 8, 2009 at 9:37am

That's a great tip! I bet it helps them to slide in nice and true, too. I've lost a few when they've gone in wonky and bent the tang instead of seated.

StarGeezers said:

Real fret wire is the best ... frets are no place to skimp cause' they have to be just right, or the CBG won't play right ... Here's a tip for getting Real fret wire to seat fully .... After the slots are cut , use a small V file to widen the top of the slot slightly , then you can bang the frets home , and have them sit completely flat on the board , no spaces/gaps ...

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Permalink Reply by Tres Seaver on September 8, 2009 at 10:01am

Awesome. I have just given up on the second try at my first fretboard: the first pass was wire nails (too small) and the second copper wire (maybe too big). In both cases, getting the CA to bond was rough.

I may still have to pry off the fingerboard and start over, but maybe I can try your solution first.

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Permalink Reply by Jkevn on September 8, 2009 at 10:24am

I've had reasonably good luck with locktite "gel" superglue holding copper wire for frets. The one lesson is to be patient and let it set over night. Even then a few would pop off while filing down the ends. The copper always has an issue of being curved, it does come rolled, and the toothpicks, while "traditional" are big and a lil clumsy on the lower frets (upper frets?) (the narrow ones...)

If your careful separating them, these are rigid enough to stay straight and the alloy is soft enough to file/sand to your liking. I used a block of wood to tap them in and with no glue, I can't pry them out with my fingers.

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Permalink Reply by Bobiron on September 8, 2009 at 2:19pm

What about using sliversteel rod? This stuff is straight as a die and very strong and hard as it is heat treated. These could be glued in or pushed into alsot the rigt width.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Doug on September 8, 2009 at 2:32pm

the build I am working on now has frets made of pick guard. Black/red/black. Looks nice to me, but I need to finish it instead of playing around with other things.

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Permalink Reply by StarGeezers on September 9, 2009 at 1:56am

Having made a number of scratch built guitars over the years (31 so far ), fretting was always the most tedious and exacting of the skills needed for success.. Proper installation and "fret dress" is critical to a good playing instrument .. Frets need to be securely set, properly leveled, and crowned to work properly, fret ends need to be nicely smoothed and rounded as to not cut the players fingers ... Skimping on this part will only produce a poor playing instrument that buzzes and does not intonate properly ... You guys done any threads on proper fret installation and dress techniques???

You can see some of my guitars at www.glenweber.com