Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

darkshadow54321

darkshadow54321

New member
I've decided that it's time for me to try to build a guitar from scratch (been wanting to do it for ages), but before I do so I'm going to try refretting a beater guitar I have. It's best to get some experience before starting a big project and they say the neck is the most difficult bit.

I'm on a somewhat limited budget but I want to buy the best tools I can afford. If this goes well, I plan to build several guitars so I consider it an investment. Also, if I decide that I don't have the skills for it, I can always sell them as better tools will have better resale value...

I will be attempting fretting with stainless steel fretwire (I know it's harder but I'd like to try it out as I'm interested to see what it sounds/plays like) and with a bound fingerboard. Here is the list:

From Stewmac:
From LMII
Is there anything I've missed out, or that is unnecessary, or simply not recommended? I know that things like the fret bender aren't absolutely necessary, but they make the job so much easier, so I'd consider it worthwhile. I already have a straight edge, btw, and I also plan to get a fret bevel file from somewhere.

I need to get a good book on fretting (probably Fretwork Step-by-Step) or the Dan Erlewine videos so that I can really understand the process. I know the basics, but I'm still really confused about which files to get. Should I go for a standard shaped diamond file like the one listed above, or something more like this?:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=270236770865&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017

I listed the diamond one because from what I've read they last longer and are nicer to use, but are they really worth the extra money?

I know this is pretty ambitious, but I'm very patient so I'll take it slow to make sure that it goes OK. I'll also be posting a picture tutorial if it turns out nice! ;)
 
Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

when it comes to fretting tools i use some home made tools and a few select few from Stew Mac

the only stew mac tools i have for fret work is a fret saw, a few re-crowning files, and some 8 inch long radius blocks with the 3m self stick sand paper... that is it

the rest i use is home made and modified tools from the local hardware store... i have some common metal files and cutters from home depot... for pulling out old frets i use a set of nippers from the hardware store that i gound the noise down on a grinder so the teeth would grab the wire underneth

i hammer in new frets and don't use the clamp in method... i use some cheap rubber faced small hammers i bought for $4 each...

for bending fret wire stock i bend the 2 foot long lengths over a coffee can..

buy yourself a quality Shopvac with a fine dust filter on it!!! make sure you get the fine dust or drywall filter on it
 
Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

I'm no luthier, i guess i consider myself more of a guitar tech since i can do everything a typical tech does but i don't build guitars from raw wood making me not a luthier :D

i was lucky enough to learn how to do refrets, fret leveling and dressing from one of the best around, Cris Mirabella of Mirabella Guitars.

I can tell you what what i use....

-quality metal straight edge
-notched straight edge
-fret pullers
-fret bender
-fret cutters
-fret slot saw
-fret hammer
-cork lined neck support caul
-masking tape for masking off the board
-red or blue marker for marking the fret tops during leveling to see the progress and high and low spots
-fret leveling file...used for the fret end bevel. the one that stew mac sells with a guard is ok but you're stuck with a 35 degree bevel and not everyone likes that so learning to do it without the guard is best so you can control the bevel angle.
-fret leveler
-radius block that matches your radius
-file for use in crowning...this is up to you i use a flat file and sandpaper as erlewine shows in his dvd since i feel i have more control that way
-fret end dressing file your choice of type, i have two different one i use. one being the little orange handle stew mac one that works well for me and a larger 3 sided one handed down from my luthier friend who taught me.
-various grits of sandpaper for use with the leveler and radius block and for final dressing of the edges and crowns (i use erlewines flapping the paper over the frets method in his dvd to get my crowns and edges nice and smooth)
-0000 steel wool to finish off the frets

thankfully when learning Cris let me use his tools while teaching me so i didn't have to buy all of them and even gave me some for Christmas which was really cool of him and it got me into doing fret work. i knew it was something i could handle doing and get good at so i bought a few more tools of my own so i didn't have to be a bother to him to use his.

i think that covers everything when it comes to tools. some stuff you may want to do different or use different tools and some you may feel you don't need...it's up to you after doing research and deciding what you'd like to try. i can only tell you how i do it. oh and there's no need for the press when using a hammer and neck support caul and i was told it was better to use a hammer anyway since it actually puts less strain on the neck. there's lots of schools of thought when it comes to all areas of fret work so it all depends on who you talk to. i got used to a hammer and that's what i like now. it's just 1-2-3 real simple to use, tap in the fret, tap down the edges and clip them off, no set up and lining it up and all that like with the press.

fret work is real easy to do if you take your time get the erlewine books and DVD and make sure you understand everything before you try it then just dive right in. i love doing fret work now and have gotten pretty darn good at it too.

oh and as for the notched straight edge and straight edge...both of those can be pricey so i made my own. i took a good quality thick metal ruler and took a dremel to one side of it making the notches and it works great and cost me no where near the cost of the stew mac stuff. granted mine only works for 25.5" scale but 98% of my guitars are 25.5" scale so it was fine by me to do that. plus i could make another one for 24 3/4" if needed and still be way way way way below the cost of the stew mac one.

-Mike
 
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Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

Man I would really love to get into doing this stuff! I would build one 6 string and a 27" 7 string immediately. Problem is, there arent many tools for 7s.. one of these days!
 
Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

suislidE03 said:
Man I would really love to get into doing this stuff! I would build one 6 string and a 27" 7 string immediately. Problem is, there arent many tools for 7s.. one of these days!
Click to expand...

what special tools would one need for 7's???? it's basicly the same construction methods... maybe some graphite rods in the neck would be the only true extra step......
 
Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

the local tech is pretty crafty... the guys i learned from also showed me many ways of getting around specialized and expesive tools from Stewmac... the guitar making course i took the guy there showed me how to make a radius block with a table saw!!!! as dangerous as it was it worked... i will not say how it was done as it could be dangerous... for bending acoustic guitar sides pieces he showed us how to build irons... it was old toaster ovens taken apart and stuffed inside some metal pipes...

it was kind of interesting learning all these cool little ideas...

that being said i love a lot of stew mac's fretting tools and i need to buy some more... i'd love to get the 400-600 grit diamond files for crowning...
 
Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

Here are the main things I can add to this discussion. If you're using Stainless Steel fretwire your first time out, you absolutely should get the fret radius crank, or make your own. You can make one out of plexiglass, ball bearings, etc. It's not that difficult. Also, using SS frets your first time out, definitely get the fret press caul. I hammer my frets in, and I recommend people get trained and used to that method, but SS frets are very hard, and they require a skilled hammering hand to get in uniformly. The press and radius machine will allow a patient learner like yourself to get a very professional fret seating your first time out. Hammering and hand-bending SS would be nightmare for you. You would be more likely to quit half way through, or never build that custom guitar.
 
Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

I havent read through all of this but just thoght I might add some of my best purchases online in terms of fret/guitar setup.

Excellent guitar nut files (way, WAY cheaper than individuals & also act as a straight edge to check with.

Fret crowning file, again dont bother buying individuals, this has a better handle than any others & is cheaper than buying seperates.

Fret bevel, block of wood cut to perfect angles for the edges.

Fret pliers/pullers - spring loaded, a little bit cheap (he grinds down the end flat so they work peroperly. but they do work & are "guarranteed for life".

Radiused blocks, stick 320g self-adhesive (sticky backed) sandpaper to these & they work a bloody treat.

Matching radius guages for previous blocks.

Fret hammer, cheaper than stew mac, basically the same.

Neck rest, I use this every time I work on a guitar now, it's really nice. you might be able to find a cheaper alternative in the Us though.

Check out the stores for each of those sellers, you'l find many cheaper alternatives to what you're looking for. Stew-mac is great, but it's pretty pricey. The only tool I really value that i've bought from them is the fret rocker, couldnt be without it.
 
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Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

Wow! Thanks for the great replies! Some good tips....

What I plan to do is to use a fret hammer to gently knock the fretwire into place and then use the fretting caul to get it perfect. Lots of people use this method with great success. Also, since it's my first time, I think I'll really benefit from the accuracy that using the fret caul gives. It can only help. :D

Yeah, I'm planning to buy some stuff off eBay as Stew Mac is quite pricey, and the eBay stuff looks to be pretty good anyway. I realise that a lot of the tools could be modified from regular hardware store tools, but I don't have access to machinery to grind down the edges, etc, so it's just easier to buy them. :)

I'll definitely try to pick up the Erlewine DVDs as I've seen a few of his videos (e.g: how to set up guitars, nut making, etc) and they're really really helpful. I always find it's much easier to learn things from videos than from books.

OK, so just a quick question to see if I fully understand the process: once the fretwire is in place and the edges have been trimmed flush with the fretboard, I use a leveller to make sure everything is perfectly flat, I use the crowning files to round over the fretwire and make it nice and smooth, and then I bevel the edges of the fretwire (typical 35 degree angle). Finally, I dress the end of the frets a bit and buff the frets. Is that everything or have I missed out any steps?
 
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Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

in a nutshell, once the frets are pressed in & set.

cut them as flush with the fretboard as you can.
level the frets to the same radius as the board (radius blocks)
re-crown each of the frets (restore the round shape - theyre currently all flat now) (fret crowning file)
bevel the edges to 35 degrees & make sure the edges are nice & safe (bevelling file)
polish all frets up with #0000 steel wool (you need good light & to look real close to see when theyre nice, it's easy to miss a few marks.)

Make sure the truss rod is adjusted perfectly straight before doing any of this (the fretboard not the frets remember)
 
Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

Hmmm... OK, now I don't really understand what the leveller is for.

Before the frets are installed, the fretboard is sanded to the right radius (if you're starting from scratch, otherwise is already radiused). The fretwire is prebent to a slightly tighter radius (so that the ends don't pop up) and then pressed into the slots.

So the frets should already be radiused as well as the board... so why the radius sanding blocks?

And where does the leveller come in? I thought the point of the leveller was to ensure that all frets are at the same height...

I need a book ASAP... :)
 
Re: Calling all luthiers: fretting tools

the frets will be radiused. but can you make that perfect radius all the way up and down with your hand? unlikely, if you have the sandpaper stuck to something at that perfect radius already, you cant go wrong.
 
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