Any of you guys done DIY refrets? With cheaper (NOT stewmac) tools and materials?

A

Adieu

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Can anybody link to Amazon stuff they've personally used and would rate 4* or 5*? Really hard to tell what's good, what's bs, and what's downright fake (like precut branded fretwire on Amazon - real or knockoffs?)

Please link to stuff that you've used that left you satisfied. Specifically fretwire and fret cutters, but also anything else you found inexpensive but useful.

Thx.
 
Real deal. Of course, I am way beyond DIY. I've been a guitar repairman since 1977.
And if this is your first effort.... Buy the cheap wire, because you're gonna make some mistakes the first time.
And if you want cheap tools - why even bother? You aren't serious about it.
 
ICTGoober said:
Real deal. Of course, I am way beyond DIY. I've been a guitar repairman since 1977.
And if this is your first effort.... Buy the cheap wire, because you're gonna make some mistakes the first time.
And if you want cheap tools - why even bother? You aren't serious about it.
Click to expand...

Cause my azz is bored and broke and I can afford 50 bucks on materials for some pastime, but 200... not so much?

Anyway, could you link to the fretwire you used? I'm not sure you realize, but NOT nearly everything that namedrops brands on Amazon is ACTUALLY authentic
 
Amazon jescar wire. Or ebay it's up to you
end nippers find a belt sander and flush the face up
Some small diamond files

Oh get the stainless wire

Why skimp now
 
Stainless isn't a super metal
its gummy when you work on it
And your files load up
Not dull

Clean the tool regularly and it works fine

Dont let it get hot and work hardened
 
Don’t know why you want to avoid StewMac. I’ve been using their products professionally for about 40 years. I also use their fretwire. It’s high quality stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I've bought cheap pre-bent fretwire off the net once before......

Never.

again.

Didn't go into the slot I'd sawn, and the ends were always popping up due to this - on both necks I tried it on. Pulled it out and went for stuff that was matched to the slot.

Fretting is not time to cheap out IMO - the whole playability of your guitar depends on it.
 
For the money you want to "save" by buying cheap fretwire and cheap tools, you could have it refretted by someone with experience and competence. Are you sure the guitar doesn't need a simple fret level? (that's even cheaper)
 
ICTGoober said:
For the money you want to "save" by buying cheap fretwire and cheap tools, you could have it refretted by someone with experience and competence. Are you sure the guitar doesn't need a simple fret level? (that's even cheaper)
Click to expand...


there is no "guitar"

There's a bunch of reject pile junk leftovers from partscaster builds and a desire for some activity to alleviate the boredom of this plague year that doesn't involve nodding off to netflix etc. or being kept awake by political news
 
You conveniently left that part of the story out.... So I was right, you are NOT serious. If you're bored, you should have said that - and we would have made suggestions - some of them CHEAP.
 
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Call it practice equipment

No, I'm not planning on diving in with zero experience, tearing up the frets from my fullbrand ESP, and winging it or anything

More like practice on some partscaster castoffs and learn stuff. Although the preference is definitely to get some of that sh!t reanimated and gain useful experience, not kill-it-even-deader
 
ICTGoober said:
For the money you want to "save" by buying cheap fretwire and cheap tools, you could have it refretted by someone with experience and competence. Are you sure the guitar doesn't need a simple fret level? (that's even cheaper)
Click to expand...

For what it’s worth, I have a guitar with very small frets, and I took it to a tech to get a refret; they suggested simply levelling them, and though I thought they weren’t large enough to be useable after, I followed their advice (and got the refret).

It was good as new after, no regrets (and a lot cheaper).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Adieu said:
Can anybody link to Amazon stuff they've personally used and would rate 4* or 5*? Really hard to tell what's good, what's bs, and what's downright fake (like precut branded fretwire on Amazon - real or knockoffs?)

Please link to stuff that you've used that left you satisfied. Specifically fretwire and fret cutters, but also anything else you found inexpensive but useful.

Thx.
Click to expand...
I bought a bunch of Luthier tools off Wish.com for very little money. A number of them look identical to the ones being sold on Stewmac. The only problem was that it took a month for them to arrive from China.
 
Adieu said:
there is no "guitar"

There's a bunch of reject pile junk leftovers from partscaster builds and a desire for some activity to alleviate the boredom of this plague year that doesn't involve nodding off to netflix etc. or being kept awake by political news
Click to expand...

I stand by my post

These are for tile
But they are hardened and flush on the end
compound cutting motion makes it easier to cut stainless frets
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FSAUX4..._Nu5HFb1YNQJJG

diamond file set cheap
not necessarily good
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FLH7528..._dx5HFbMMP9A5R

plastic mallet
To install frets
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYO4BNP..._Tz5HFb2NAX1ZB

You got leveling and crowning tools right?
 
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Ive re-fretted several guitars -but only bought raw wire from Stew Mac or similar.

Seems like a lot of work to risk using an unknown -so get some confirmation from others before buying

also, cheap wire is often annealed improperly making them wear much much faster -so I'm not sure the savings is worth unless get some confirmation that speaks to the frets wear over time as well.
 
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