What do you lot use to level (dress) your frets?

[superhairycamel]

Hi guys, title pretty much says it all, im getting interested in doing some of my own fretwork (i have some dodgy necks to practice on!) and was wondering what tools the people on this forum to be the easiest to use/most accurate.

can you use a big radiused block with an abraisive on it to rub down the entire fretboard? that would be quite easy and foolproof. Baisically i would just like to know more about it and figured it would be good to hear what people use on the ibanez'

thanks!

[kspeed]

Before you do anything you should tape off the board and sides of the neck. I use a couple layers of masking tape on each fret - works fine.

If you have worn fretbars that are still decent enough to be restored (and not replaced), use something like this to reshape and remove grooves:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting...ret_Files.html

And this to round off sharp edges:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting...sing_File.html

If you know what you're doing you can also use high grit wet sandpaper and do it by hand. To finish everything off you can use a nice mag polish - makes'em shinier and slipperier (I use Meguiar's).

Also, if you have raised fretbars you want to use something like this to tap'em back into place:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting...et_Setter.html

It's brass because it's softer than the fretwire and won't cause any indentations. They also make brass hammers for this same purpose.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by superhairycamel

Hi guys, title pretty much says it all, im getting interested in doing some of my own fretwork (i have some dodgy necks to practice on!) and was wondering what tools the people on this forum to be the easiest to use/most accurate.

can you use a big radiused block with an abraisive on it to rub down the entire fretboard? that would be quite easy and foolproof. Baisically i would just like to know more about it and figured it would be good to hear what people use on the ibanez'

thanks!

Yes, the proper radius block with abrasive works fine. I use a medium bastard or mill file(hand selected for straightness) with the tang bent upward. After taping the fretboard, I "paint" the tops of the frets with a black marker(makes it easy to tell which frets are low). once they are level, I crown with a stewmac diamond cut crowning file(150 then 300 grit). Then I wrap 400 grit sandpaper around an old crowning file and hit each fret about 6 strokes. I repeat with 800, then 1000 and then(using a stainless fretboard protector-also stewmac) I polish with a dremel using fabric buffing wheels and an abrasive stick. The frets are mirror smooth. I also will rub down the board with fingerboard oil and scrub it in with 0000 steel wool. If you have any lifted frets(decide before you start) they may need to be glued down so they don't pop again(superglue will wick under nicely but you need something to hold the fret down for 30 seconds).

[Rich]

If you're talking about Ibanez necks most of them are 430mm radius, 16.93". The closest radius block is 16". This is not a good match.

I am firmly in the camp that you cannot get precision work with any radius block. Only levelling every fret at the same time will assure the final results are true. Since we're posting Stwe Mac links, this would be my choice hands down.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting..._Levelers.html

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by Rich

If you're talking about Ibanez necks most of them are 430mm radius, 16.93". The closest radius block is 16". This is not a good match.

I am firmly in the camp that you cannot get precision work with any radius block. Only levelling every fret at the same time will assure the final results are true. Since we're posting Stwe Mac links, this would be my choice hands down.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting..._Levelers.html

I also use one of those levelling bars, theyre great! but do find it useful to use a radiused leveller afterward...
I make my own precision 430mm cauls (on a CNC) and use 3M's self adhesive paper - the best.... http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishin...Abrasives.html

I have to say I wouldnt use a radius block (for 430mm) if it were not for the fact that i can make my own... other than that I like them, levelling bean followed by radius block works well for me.

[Rich]

Do you feel the need because you may very slightly change the radius using the beam? I've always found if you're diciplined and cut very even this isn't an issue. Some might tend to keep cutting on the spot they need to more than the rest though.

[albee1952]

Good point on the radius blocks not matching the Ibanez radius. I was assuming he had a matching block. I always wondered about those stewmac bar. Maybe I'll grab one the next time I order parts.

[Rich]

You won't regret it. And for Stickit, Terry's Auto Supply [or Terry's Auto Paint Supply, or something like that!]

[Ayrton]

http://www.terrys.net/

[Rich]

Uh oh, they're not carrying the full assortment like they used to ;/