Good stuff to polish frets?

[Nightburst]

What do you guys use to polish your frets?

I have this habit of doing a quick polish everytime I change strings and just stepped over from using chrome cleaner paste to this stuff called: Commandant 4, cleaner for weathered paints. Works perfectly and is not as messy as the chrome cleaner paste.

[big_black]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

You don't need any cleaner. Get some 000 steel wool and buff them out, it's real easy. Pinch the steel wool between your index finger and thumb and go directly over the top of the fret. Make sure you count how many times you go back and forth to buff. You want to do this an equal number on all frets so they are even. I do this on all my guitars. As well as polishing, it helps to even out any perfections in the frets, especially on new guitars.

[Nightburst]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

Good idea, I'll try the steel wool sometime then.

[Bludave]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

If you are going to use steel wool on your frets be carful if you have a maple fingerboard tape off the board befor you buff with the steel wool or you will gragually cut the finish on the board.

[Mkf411]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

Don't you have to cover your pickups as well so the magnets don't attract bits of steel wool?

[7th Hell]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

Nah- just be careful when doing the upper frets. Small steel wool "hairs" can really damage a pup. While you're at it, try conditioning your fretboard (rosewood or ebony) with a rag with a few drops of lemon oil on it. Buff it into the wood with the grain. Turn the cloth to a dry spot and wipe it down until the cloth is clean (no yukky black tarnish residue).

[59paul]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

If you use the Steel Wool, use 0000 ( that's 4 zero's ) !!!! And yes, tape over the pickups with masking tape.

[big_black]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

If you use the Steel Wool, use 0000 ( that's 4 zero's ) !!!! And yes, tape over the pickups with masking tape.

Yes, I feel dumb. Get the lightest grade steel wool (0000!!!). I tape off my fretboard whether it is maple or rosewood. Tape off your pickups as well, those hairs suck!!

Sorry, I was just doing a quick once-over on how to buff frets. BEFORE DOING ANY OF THIS, CONSULT A REPAIR GUIDE OR PROFESSIONAL, not me.


One more thing, always use masking tape. It can leave a residue, so stick it to your pants a couple of times to get some lint on it. This will help prevent any reisdue from being left behind.


Later.

[Sprinter]

Brasso

I polish frets with a rag, and Brasso. They shine like new when I'm done. You have to be careful with ebony and rosewood, because the Brasso will go down into the pores of the wood. A little tape on the fretboard will cure that problem.

Sprinter

[59paul]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

Yes, I feel dumb. Get the lightest grade steel wool (0000!!!). I tape off my fretboard whether it is maple or rosewood. Tape off your pickups as well, those hairs suck!!

Sorry, I was just doing a quick once-over on how to buff frets. BEFORE DOING ANY OF THIS, CONSULT A REPAIR GUIDE OR PROFESSIONAL, not me.


One more thing, always use masking tape. It can leave a residue, so stick it to your pants a couple of times to get some lint on it. This will help prevent any reisdue from being left behind.


Later.

Hey Bro, you're on it !!
And,...Don't feel Dumb lol. We all get in a hurry now and then.
Good advice from big black here !!! ................................

[Tweed]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

Masking tape is good. 0000 steel wool is good. On rosewood or ebony boards, never go across the grain, always up or down, with the grain. Steel wool does a nice job of removing built-up on these boards, as well as the frets. It doesn't take many swipes with the steel wool, and doesn't require much bearing down, either. Dr. Duck's Axwax is a very good board conditioner and polish. You might try that before you go with steel wool. Polishes frets up nicely. There's no wax in it, BTW.

[gOgIver]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

MICRO FINE 65 FRET POLISHING CLOTH scroll to bottom of page.

[Jono_L]

Re: Good stuff to polish frets?

MICRO FINE 65 FRET POLISHING CLOTH scroll to bottom of page.

I can vouch that they don't work at all!

For a new guitar with slightly oxidised frets, they may work. Other than that, it was a waste of money.

I use Autosol for my frets. Basic metal polish, in paste form instead of being runny like Brasso. I find that the paste tends to be less messy as compared to brasso, and i tape off the fretboard before polishing it.