tool for rounding frets after levelling

axisus

I want to get something in ASAP so I can do this before the end of the year when I'm off work (so probably not from StewMac). Can anyone recommend a specific tool/supplier. My frets look fairly small although I don't think vintage size.

Skodadad

I being ghetto boy made one, get a piece of wood about 8mm thick and make an easily held rounded shape with a flat edge, place a piece of sandpaper on a fret from a decent guitar with the sandpaper side up. Sand the flat edge of the wood on it until you get a groove in it. Then place some wet and dry over the groove with some brasso on and sand the frets. Works a treat but may not be as perfect as the right tool.

octatonic

I've owned pretty much every crowning file there is and there is nothing better than this:

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Files/Offset_Diamond_Fret_File.html

I won't use anything else now.

Stew Mac are extremely fast at shipping- I've had stuff from them quicker than UK suppliers.

axisus

Bloody hell that's expensive!!!!! Not sure I can stretch that far. OK, I'll revise that, I can't stretch that far. The wife would do her nut especially at Xmas.

Skodadad

If you were doing it for a living tools like that make sense, for a one off job it's a lot of money.

WezV

as other thread - get some micromesh

BenSirAmos

axisus said:

The wife would do her nut especially at Xmas.

Get her some cheap nut files and you could both be happy

I'll get me coat

octatonic

Skodadad said:

If you were doing it for a living tools like that make sense, for a one off job it's a lot of money.

You are probably right but every time I use it I feel it is money well spent.

Micromesh is great for polishing but you need a decent crowning file as well.

Axisus- look on the Crimson Guitars website- they do a not too expensive but decent crowning file.

Sarge

I started off with a Goeldo crowning file good for large/jumbo and that's a good one and cheap at around £18
Tried a Gurian (used) but hated it.
I now have Hosco files and they are superb if you're happy using a straight file, and at £30 odd each they're good value, but if you go for a non diamond file its essential you get something like a brass suede brush to clean the file between frets, or else the file will slip over or judder over the fret leaving gouges which means you'll have to relevel the frets again.

streethawk

I prefer a three corner file but the hosco ones are good.

http://www.tonetechluthiersupplies.co.uk/fret-file-medium.html

https://crimsonguitars.com/shop/small-fret-crowning-triangular-file

Andyjr1515

If I was buying again, I would buy a cheap 'jumbo' fret file, but wrap micromesh around it.  I found that even the hoscoe files tend to leave ripples and ridges.  

With the micro mesh, you still get the curve and stability from the file, but it's the micro-mesh that's actually doing the cutting.  Doing it like this has transformed the speed and finish that I get nowadays.

streethawk

Andyjr1515 said:

If I was buying again, I would buy a cheap 'jumbo' fret file, but wrap micromesh around it.  I found that even the hoscoe files tend to leave ripples and ridges.  

With the micro mesh, you still get the curve and stability from the file, but it's the micro-mesh that's actually doing the cutting.  Doing it like this has transformed the speed and finish that I get nowadays.

That must take some filing!

Andyjr1515

streethawk said:

Andyjr1515 said:

If I was buying again, I would buy a cheap 'jumbo' fret file, but wrap micromesh around it.  I found that even the hoscoe files tend to leave ripples and ridges.  

With the micro mesh, you still get the curve and stability from the file, but it's the micro-mesh that's actually doing the cutting.  Doing it like this has transformed the speed and finish that I get nowadays.

That must take some filing!

Not really - I just start with coarse micromesh (1800ish), then repeat with 4000, then finish with 12000 

IMO the lot can be done on your lap in the time and while you are watching a football match on the telly...

Chalky

Why do people expect good accurate tools to be dirt cheap? Why will they spend over a £1000 on their guitars but not pay £50 for a good fret file?

axisus

Chalky said:

Why do people expect good accurate tools to be dirt cheap? Why will they spend over a £1000 on their guitars but not pay £50 for a good fret file?

Because you play your guitar every day for your whole life but you may only fret one guitar ever. We aren't all wealthy! My GAS stash is a limited fund that can never grow unless I sell stuff and generally that is a case of diminishing returns. 

WezV

Its never just £50 for a file though is it.   How many people buy a fret file without having to buy a other tools.

Even those with a well stocked workshop will need some specialist guitar tools if they want to build a guitar.  those starting from scratch will  need even more.

But it doesn't all need to be brought at once and guitar building doesn't just need to be a hobby for the rich.  You can do a lot with basic tools and a bit of ingenuity

I have 4 different fret-files.   I didn't like the first 3 and actually found I got more consistent results with a triangular file and a lot of slow hand work.  

streethawk

Andyjr1515 said:

streethawk said:

Andyjr1515 said:

If I was buying again, I would buy a cheap 'jumbo' fret file, but wrap micromesh around it.  I found that even the hoscoe files tend to leave ripples and ridges.  

With the micro mesh, you still get the curve and stability from the file, but it's the micro-mesh that's actually doing the cutting.  Doing it like this has transformed the speed and finish that I get nowadays.

That must take some filing!

Not really - I just start with coarse micromesh (1800ish), then repeat with 4000, then finish with 12000 

IMO the lot can be done on your lap in the time and while you are watching a football match on the telly...

To be honest, the amount of sanding and buffing needed after smashing the frets to bits with my file, you may have the solution there. 

octatonic

axisus said:

Chalky said:

Why do people expect good accurate tools to be dirt cheap? Why will they spend over a £1000 on their guitars but not pay £50 for a good fret file?

Because you play your guitar every day for your whole life but you may only fret one guitar ever. We aren't all wealthy! My GAS stash is a limited fund that can never grow unless I sell stuff and generally that is a case of diminishing returns. 

I want to be encouraging, because I think what you are doing is great- but Chalky does have a point.

You can get ok results with a cheap file but you might have to persevere with it.

As you would expect the better tools are quicker and more accurate to work with.

I'm not saying what you should or should not do but your first fret job might not be up to a pro standard and I assume you want to play this guitar, not just built it?

Fretting is one of the most important things when it comes to how a guitar feels.

You can cut corners with body sanding, or pickup routing- it might affect the look but it won't affect the feel of the instrument.

Fretting and neck carve is the place to spend money if you can justify it.

The first guitar I built I ended up fretting 3 times all up, before I got it to a decent standard.

streethawk

WezV said:

Its never just £50 for a file though is it.   How many people buy a fret file without having to buy a other tools.

Even those with a well stocked workshop will need some specialist guitar tools if they want to build a guitar.  those starting from scratch will  need even more.

But it doesn't all need to be brought at once and guitar building doesn't just need to be a hobby for the rich.  You can do a lot with basic tools and a bit of ingenuity

I have 4 different fret-files.   I didn't like the first 3 and actually found I got more consistent results with a triangular file and a lot of slow hand work.  

Me too. And the triangular file can be decent and affordable.

Everyone loves the stewmac diamond files, they cut faster for a start, but if you're willing to persevere I'd go with the triangular option. Take your time!

axisus

Yeah, I know Chalky's right, I've spent a lifetime on DIY and car repairs and I'm fully aware that quality tools are a joy and cheap tools are a depressing waste of time money and effort. It's just that when you have a mortgage, two cars and 4 kids you really have to eak out the available spending money.

Chalky

By the way, what pickups are you using in your humbucker+p90 tele?