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A "recrowning" file is used to re-establish the curved dome of frets that have been sanded / filed down to make them all level and have left them with flat tops. These fret files don't actually take anything off the top of the frets by design, but remove material from the squared off "shoulders" left after levelling. You usually have to polish the frets to remove residual filing marks on the domed crown.
You can buy "Fret erasers" (abrasive encapsulated in hard rubber blocks) of different grades from around 200 grit in increments up to 1,000 grit. You don't normally have to tape off the fretboard between the frets when using these as they span more than one fret and don't touch the board. The 400 grit fret erasers will usually remove fine file marks.
If you are so inclined you could tape off the board between frets and use a fine wet & dry paper like P600 or P800 folded and rubbed along the frets with your thumb or forefinger. I prefer this for removing the fine filing grooves as it is more effective for this task than fret erasers, but your fingers will get pretty dirty. To give the frets a final fine polish you can use one of the fine grit fret erasers or even Brasso on a cloth.
I use the above for a 'quick and dirty' high-spot fret levelling on my own guitars and basses if I'm pushed for time to do the proper job. A variation of the same method could be used to sort your issue.
The method:
- take the two emery boards and rub the two together on one side for 30 seconds or so to give a smoother side on each
-mask off the fretboard (in the quick and dirty version, I just walk a couple of strips of masking tape up the fretboard, sticking them on either side of each fret I'm tackling)
- with forefinger at the back of the emery board to gauge the pressure and keeping the board level to not dig into the fretboard, gently sand along the fret direction using the 'rough side' of the emery board. You are only trying to remove the bumps and not lower the frets!
- turn the emery board over and repeat with the smooth side
- finish off with the nail buffer to bring it to a shine
Thank you so much for the detailed response
1980 Tokai LS-80