Phil Mailloux Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Is it me or is this the same exact tool that Stewmac sells as the fret tang nipper? It looks like there's no modifications whatsoever and a lot cheaper too. Can anyone that has the stewmac one comment on the looks of the Klein one? is there anything different to it? Can someone also comment on what makes the difference between the medium and large fret models? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 the stewmac one has a "half crown" ground into it to suit small/med or med/large fret wire. Other than that its identical. It would be near impossible to grind this at home (with enough precious to make it work... PROPERLY), unless you have some decent milling machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evan gluck Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 I was actually able to cut the slot in the non Stewmac version with a Dremel cutoff wheel. It has been working great for years. In retrospect though it took forever and was not the safest thing I have ever done so BE CAREFUL!! Evan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Is it me or is this the same exact tool that Stewmac sells as the fret tang nipper? It looks like there's no modifications whatsoever and a lot cheaper too. Can anyone that has the stewmac one comment on the looks of the Klein one? is there anything different to it? Can someone also comment on what makes the difference between the medium and large fret models? Robert May and I have discussed this a long time ago, when I found out that the Stew Mac one I had was a Klien tool, except they use heat shrink over the handles to either cover up the Klien logo, or for better grip... lol I'll let you decide.. ... Although if you don't have an effective way to slot it like Perry mentioned, you'd be better off buying the Stew Mac one anyway... but regardless.. yes, Phil, it's exactly the same one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 I also ground my own, and I know they work every bit as well as the Stewy ones. I guess it takes a special kind of guy to have the eye-hand coordination to do such a thing, but I have to admit, that Dremel cutter often scares the hell out of me, when it suddenly grabs on the edge of what you're cutting and you lose control for a second. Another plus, if you buy from a place like linked above, is that they also sell extra blades for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 ..... Another plus, if you buy from a place like linked above, is that they also sell extra blades for them. Which reminds me, I need to order extra blades myself!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Thanks very much guys, I was looking at this for quite some time now. Time to experiment a bit now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Thanks very much guys, I was looking at this for quite some time now. Time to experiment a bit now This came up in another post recently: I bought these tang nippers --it would have cost me more to buy the nippers and modify them (assuming I would have been able to modify them). They work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 (edited) Thanks very much guys, I was looking at this for quite some time now. Time to experiment a bit now This came up in another post recently: I bought these tang nippers --it would have cost me more to buy the nippers and modify them (assuming I would have been able to modify them). They work. Great price. Edited August 3, 2006 by Godin SD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted August 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Make yourselves all a favor, if you own a dremel with a cut-off wheel. Here's my clickable thumbnail tutorial I went and bought a sheet metal nibbler for $17AUD at Dick Smiths, that's Australia's version of Radio Shack. I'm sure you'll all find one locally for peanuts. That speaks for itself, I clamped the nibbler and used the cut-off wheel on it. That was a 30 second mod, I'm serious! The cut-off wheel cut through this metal like butter. You can see the groove I made here Cutting some fret material The end result, sorry about the bad quality picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayvo Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Thanks for the sourcing info and tut, Phil Its great to find a useful tool that can be bought locally at a reasonable price Im off to DSE this morning to pick one up dayvo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted August 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Cool You'll find it next to the PCB and soldering stuff. Make sure you hold your dremel with two hands to control it properly and make small lines as you go slowly deeper. You have to be careful because that cut-off wheel will make a mess of the surounding metal if you slip up. You also have to make sure that the groove is as close as possible to the mouth so you don't cut the tang too short. Check it out first with a bit of fretwire before you start cutting the groove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayvo Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Cool You'll find it next to the PCB and soldering stuff. Make sure you hold your dremel with two hands to control it properly and make small lines as you go slowly deeper. You have to be careful because that cut-off wheel will make a mess of the surounding metal if you slip up. You also have to make sure that the groove is as close as possible to the mouth so you don't cut the tang too short. Check it out first with a bit of fretwire before you start cutting the groove. Thanks for the xtra info dayvo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Yes, great tutorial --I'd been wondering how to get that done before I bought one. Here in France, the cheapest nibblers I was able to find (in the store, I didn't actually look online) would have cost me $23...and then I'd still have to do the mod. I'll keep looking for a cheaper set --can't hurt to have a backup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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