Thread: fret dressing files

Heres the kit I use for doing frets on my acoustics. From left to right.

1. 10" mill bastard file from Mitre 10 (Nicholson Brand). I take the handle off and run it over tops of frets to level same. a 12" file is even better...the longer the better. You can use a sanding board dressed with 120 grit paper for this also.
2. Stewmac fret levelling file. I run this along side of fretboard to trim and rough dress ends of frets.
3. Cardboard shield to put over frets while dressing same.
4. Stewmac fret dresssing file. Has two concave cutting surfaces on side of the tool. I use this to file the bevel on ends of frets.
5. Stewmac dressing tool. This has a band of fine emery and at the end theres a fret shaped slot under the enery so the tool fits over the fret profile. When emery gets worn you just rotate the badn around a bit until fresh emery is at the end of the tool. I use this to give the fret a final shaping and polishing.
6. (not shown). 000 grade steel wool for final polish.

Cheers Martin

Thanks Kiwi,

I already have 4 and 5, and can easily get 1. Could the mill file also be used to trim/dress the ends of the frets?

The mill file is used to trim the end of the frets. For bevelling and dressing the fret ends I use the fret dressing file. You can use a flat file for this but it would have to be a bit smaller than the mill bastard file in my last post. Getting the bevel exactly the same on each fret end is alot easier with the Stewmac file.

Fretting is not difficult but for some reason many builders get to the point of over thinking this part of the build . There are 2 schools of fretting . the glue in and the press in.
I use a combination of both that I learned at CF Martin. My tool list is
1 :hammer 2 : razor blade 3 :Pillar file 4 :30 degree fret dressing block
5: Radius block 6: 6 inch smooth cut mill file. 7: bowl of titebond and water 8 : fret tang nipper 9: Flush cut nipper
I mix the glue with water to about 2 part glue 1 part water. This is not so much to glue in frets as it is to harded the wood. I pre cut the frets with the flus cut nipper and trim off the ends of the tangs. I like to hide them so all you see is the top of the fret.
In order to prep the fretboard I use a granite plate and double stick tape tp level the fretting surface. I fret my boards off the neck.
I drop in some of the glue into the fret slot and with the razor blade work it into the slot , then I hammer in the fret. I don't think it matters if you start at the first or the last fret. I also hammer right on the corner of my bench so that the spring of the board is not bounching things for me.
The tangs will compress the wood and bow the board. This is not a bad thing as when you flatten the fret board onto the neck this actually helps the tang barbs to bite.
Once the board is fretted I nip the frets flush and use the 30 degree fret dresser. You can make one easy enough with a block of wood and table saw. Just get a few threaded inserts and mount them into the block and use a matching screw to hold a file in the block.
After this I will mount them board to the neck , then finish off the neck and board. THe Pillar file I use is for dressing the fret ends. If the slots are through I will sand with 400 or 600 grit and drop fill with super glue to fill the void and hide the fret slots. This gives the board a finished look.
The most important thing is for you to find a system that works for you. There are plenty of techniques out there and many are very good. In my early days I used water and just hammered the frets in. Those guitars as still holding the frets.
Good luck and have fun
john hall
blues creek guitars

G'day Mingus

I do my frets a little different to Kiwi in that I dress them all before installing.

I know it's a bit late now but there's a tutorial here if you're interested for you next guitar.

http://www.mcguitars.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46

Cheers

Bob