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

[DavidRavenMoon]

mo-ney

You get what you pay for. Good tools cost money. I still have and use tools I bought from SM 40 years ago.

StewMac fret wire is not expensive.

Check out Philadelphia Lutherie Tools. That’s where I buy pre cut stainless steel fret wire (since I don’t do many SS fret jobs). Some of their tools are cheaper.

 

[ehdwuld]

order the Jescar stainless wire off the jescar site

https://www.jescarguitar.com/product-category/fretwire/

stewmac has a markup
everyone does

skip that

done

 

[HM_Stratocaster]

One really great tool I learned to use for fret leveling -and I'm sure it will be controversial to some- is aluminum square channel. You can get it at your local hardware store for about 10 bucks per 12 feet. Cut some 3M sandpaper to length and apply Spray 99 to the back to make it stick to the tube. When I check with my micrometer and depth gauge It levels more evenly than any $100 fret leveling file I've ever used. Just make sure that the one you pick is straight with a level from the tool isle! The best part about it is that you can create multiple lengths out of it. One for leveling the whole board and one for spot treatment.

 

[vinta9e]

Thumbs up for that ^^

As far as fret removal is concerned, I think I got a pair of pullers and nippers from Philadelphia LT. They weren't dirt cheap but I bought them many years go and they're still a joy to use.