Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on October 23, 2009 at 3:20pm

I bought one of these from this guy on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fret-Beveling-File-for-Bolt-on-Necks_W0QQitemZ1...

One side files flush to neck, the other side puts on the beveled edge. But frankly, I'd like a flatter angle on that, so I'll maybe someday make my own with a scrap of wood and an old file.

StewMac also has one, but I think it is more like $40, plus shipping.

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Permalink Reply by Converted Stratslinger on October 23, 2009 at 3:34pm

Save the money. You can make your own with a $5 file, a scrap piece of wood, and a table saw. Just cut the angle you want with your saw, insert the file, and you're done. If the file doesn't fit tight, put some super glue in the slot first.

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Permalink Reply by Tres Seaver on October 23, 2009 at 3:49pm

Old Lowe uses a belt sander clamped into a vise:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/a-little-help-from-old-lowe

I can recommend the "don't scratch your fingerboard" file from this guy on E-bay.

It doesn't do the initial bevel of all the frets at once, but it is great for rounding off the corner of be bevel along the edge of each fret.

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Permalink Reply by Tim on October 23, 2009 at 6:29pm

i just run my file up and down the side of the fret board at about a 20 degree angle or so until they are flush then work it more to a 45 or so degree a little just to help dress them out some. basicaly the same as a the beveling block just without the net.

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Permalink Reply by Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) on October 23, 2009 at 7:44pm

The best results I get are from holding a large flat file and running it up and down by hand. I hold perpendicular to the fingerboard first and take the ends all the way down to the wood. I then turn it at about 45 degrees and put a bevel on them. Then I turn it back to straight up and down and see if there are still any ends sticking out.

You sometimes end up putting a little file marks on the neck but that's why you don't sand any lower than 220 before you fret the neck. Once you've got your frets installed and fully dressed, you come back and hit the sides with 220 to clean up any new file marks, then take the whole thing down to whatever grit you like.

Also, unless you get a fret end dressing file to clean up those edges, you're always going to feel a little bit of a sharp snag on the ends of those frets. You can take them down with 400 grit sand paper but it's really just easier and better in the long run to buy yourself the file.

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Permalink Reply by Tim on October 24, 2009 at 3:21am

you can get a cheap set of needle files for dressing the ends they come in handy other places too. no need to spend big bucks at stewmac for that one.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Doug on October 24, 2009 at 6:52am

Thanks for the input. Guess there is on easy way. I fret over fretting more than any other part of building. Someday I'm going to try mounting a little grinding stone in my router, adjust the fence so I can't go past the edge of the neck and see how that works. Than you could have a piece of wood cut to the angle you wanted the frets ground to and lay the neck on that and pass it by the little stone. I don't know how it would work, maybe get to hot, but worth a try.

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Permalink Reply by Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) on October 24, 2009 at 10:08am

Nah, don't get em from stewmac. You can find them all over eBay for half of what stewmac charges.

You have to be real careful with needle files because they cut on all sides. Fret end dressing files are ground smooth on two sides so they won't eat up your finger board. Remember what dad used to tell all of us about using the right tool for the job? He was right.

Tim said:

you can get a cheap set of needle files for dressing the ends they come in handy other places too. no need to spend big bucks at stewmac for that one.

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