Hey all,

This is my first post here and I'm looking for some specific help.  I've had the cigar box bug for awhile now and am just getting into fretting. I've downloading a fret calculator and after some aborted tries using other strategies got a stewmac fret saw and over all its working just great.  Only thing I'm having trouble with is "finishing" the frets.  I've beveled them with a bastard file and they look nice, but they are a little on the sharp side.  The slightly rough edges catch the fingers when you slide down the neck.  

Does anybody out there have any suggestions for this final stage of fret finishing?  I've tried fine grit sand paper but it's pretty tough to do much with out hurting the finish of the neck.  Let me know your thoughts and thanks in advance.

Doc Caution

PS.  By the way, I'll post some pics of my first few builds asap...  it's time to quit lurking and I'd like to see what y'all think!

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The McNally Strumstick site has this vid

http://www.strumstick.com/images/Making%20SS%20Video%20Medium.mov

It shows the construction of a strumstick. early (@10 sec.) it show the finishing of frets using a table belt sander... I use this technique and can dress all the frets on a cbg neck or fretboard in a minute or less, with excellent results....

The idea of dressing frets one at a time gives me the willies.....

the best,

Wichita Sam
Love it, but I still have to say that the fretboard needs to be as flat as possible so that one doesn't have to file any one fret down too much. Found that out on my first fret job. Now, as my neck and fretboards are as flat as I can get and I have a great fret saw, I can hammer in the frets in perfectly most every time. My last fret job was almost perfect.

I wonder what grit he is using? Do you go back and polish the frets up any Sam?

-WY

Wichita Sam said:
The McNally Strumstick site has this vid

http://www.strumstick.com/images/Making%20SS%20Video%20Medium.mov

It shows the construction of a strumstick. early (@10 sec.) it show the finishing of frets using a table belt sander... I use this technique and can dress all the frets on a cbg neck or fretboard in a minute or less, with excellent results....

The idea of dressing frets one at a time gives me the willies.....

the best,

Wichita Sam
I just have a little table top 24 X 4" belt sander... If you use a light touch, you can get away with using 60 grit without any extra "dressing"... If I need a little dressing, a 120 grit belt does the job... Anymore I almost always build with seperate fretboard, that I fret, dress, and finish before gluing to the neck.

If I have a job that calls for building on the neck and I wanted to use this technique, I would have to do this BEFORE gluing on headstock wings (if the design called for such)...

I like this practice, it produces a very nice, uniform quality fretboard with very little work...

And, if you think of it this will not only finish the frets, but finish the neck/fretboard.....
the best,

Wichita Sam

Wes Yates said:
Love it, but I still have to say that the fretboard needs to be as flat as possible so that one doesn't have to file any one fret down too much. Found that out on my first fret job. Now, as my neck and fretboards are as flat as I can get and I have a great fret saw, I can hammer in the frets in perfectly most every time. My last fret job was almost perfect.

I wonder what grit he is using? Do you go back and polish the frets up any Sam?

-WY

Wichita Sam said:
The McNally Strumstick site has this vid

http://www.strumstick.com/images/Making%20SS%20Video%20Medium.mov

It shows the construction of a strumstick. early (@10 sec.) it show the finishing of frets using a table belt sander... I use this technique and can dress all the frets on a cbg neck or fretboard in a minute or less, with excellent results....

The idea of dressing frets one at a time gives me the willies.....

the best,

Wichita Sam
Another quick way of trimming and finishing frets. I've used this successfully and found the results very satisfactory. The second video shows another quick and easy way of cutting fret slots with a scroll saw. Both need a bit of care in doing but they work well. Both from Back Porch Mojo. Regards John D


Hey!

I've done all my fretting with non-standard material, mostly brass wire, recently (looks really purty against a dark-stained fretboard). I rough finish the ends with a small bastard file, but then do the fine work with a nail-file/emery board. Works *great*.

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