Which tool for fret level

step_hent

Hi all

In the spirit of trying to do my own maintenance and setups, I'm looking at buying a fret levelling tool. Trouble is, I have guitars with a range of fretboard radii - 7.25, 9.5 and 12 inch. I like the look of the StewMac sanding beam, but I'd have to buy 3 to cover off all my guitars and I don't fancy that kind of outlay! So, my question is, how much hard is it to do a good fret level with a flat beam than a radiused one? I'm not doing refrets or anything - I just want to be able to level and dress the frets on a couple of partscasters I've built and then on the rest of my guitars as and when they need it.

Cheers
Steve

axisus

I use a flat beam, works fine. I actually use a cheap level from B&Q and stick sand paper onto it. 

Maynehead

Flat beams are fine as long as you move across the entire length of the frets evenly.

If you mark the tops of the frets with marker pen that will give you a visual indication of the areas that need most work.

Corvus

I have one of these milled beams - http://technofret.com/
If you use something like WD40 on the paper when it clogs (which is does pretty quickly) it keeps the paper clean so you know it's cutting evenly and lasts donkeys, I've done a dozen+ on the same bits of paper this way.

The radius doesn't matter, you go lengthways and stay in imaginary lines. It's the same as before specialist tools were around and folk used oil stones.

Small diamond files for crowning and doing fallaway etc.

step_hent

Ah great, thanks all! @billkat that's what I'd been looking at for a flat beam. Good tip on the WD40, I'll remember that. Any particular recommendations for files? I have StewMac files for the nut haven't looked at what the options are for fret files.

Corvus

There's a guy selling diamond files as guitar tools on fleabay but I can recall who... mounted to wood handles. I got one of his and a couple of bare files and made wood handles, glued 'em on.
They cut clean and the amount they razz off is easy to control.
I use one about 3" long for crowning. I've got a cranked Gurian one that takes inserts with different concave file bits, but I like the simple file better. It fits any fret size, doesn't chatter, and they're nice & cheap.

I do the ends with some small files liberated from work, jeweller type files with a fine mild cut to them.

Basic stuff in other words and not hard on the ol' wallet.

sweepy

I use the Stewmac Stainless Steel diamond faced blocks in Coarse, Fine and Extra Fine, using a little lemon oil as a lubricant, they work an absolute treat. Follow up the levelling with bevelling files and then wet/dry, wire wool and then cutting compound to taste

step_hent

Great advice - thanks fellas. Will have a look at fleabay for a decent set of files then.

BigMonka

There's also the Wudtone tool for levelling (and I'm sure I've seen another manufacturer with a similar model), as reviewed by Dave here: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/68811/wudtone-utl-fret-level-tool

DartmoorHedgehog

I did some levelling on my recent DIY project using a carborundum sharpening stone and a bit of light oil, just rubbing lightly along the length of the neck and tilting from side to side to follow the radius.  I just rubbed it until it touched all the frets, then recrowned and it plays well.  Probably not the best way to do it, but for a one-off it seems to have worked fine.