perhellion Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 In Brian's fretting tutorial, he make a tool that holds a file that allows him to remove the excess length and the file in the bevel on the fret ends. My question is: what holds the file in the tool? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 When I made my own one of those a few years ago, I folded a piece of 220grit sandpaper around the portion of the file that went in the slot to hold it, and it has held it in the slot since I made it 3 or 4 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 i've made 2 or 3 variations of this tool.... and i've always just taken my time. and after getting the slot cut a little small.. i'll just run it thru the table saw taking off just a tad bit more wood each time till the slot is just the right size that it holds the file snugly, takes a little practice and patience... but it's only 2x4 so it's not like you're wasting all kinds of wood... although i would recomend you buy a peice of UHMW plastic (ultra high molecular weight) that will slide over the frets much easier then wood with any kinda of fabric on it. if you decide to get the UHMW plactic chunk (available at leevalley.com, or perhaps home depot if you ask around) then you can also drill some holes and tap them to accept some set strews that would hold the file in place... i beleive this is how stew mac make's theirs... then you can use different size and smoothness files... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Mine was just pounded in with a hammer (ok I tapped it in making sure I did not split the wood) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 I just used a long file for my fretwork. The tool that I used to hold it are called "hands". They are very versitile and can hold all sorts of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 I use my hand too, because I'm usually going for a bevel that's kind of rounded, to match how the old frets were beveled. I've wondered exactly what kind of file Stew-Mac uses on theirs ; Single, or double cut, regular or steep angle ?? I've just been using regular single-cut bastard files from the hardware store, but I'll be declaring 89 files at US customs this weekend, so I'll be having file option anxiety from now on. (and really long arms from carrying these suitcases full of files, ouch ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 89 files are you planning on a large prison break or somthing? I have no more than 30 or so, and I though that was excessive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 I used to use the fret beveler, but found like Soapbar I can get a better fret end with just files.. I like to use a flat diamond file to bevel the edges. It really doesn't matter as long as your outcome is good.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Where did you buy your diamond leveler at ? Is that blue part plastic ? I'll buy one like that if it's cheap enough (did someone say "sidewalk sale" at Harbor freight coming up ?) Try to keep it quiet about the prison break, until I got 'em all working for my new slave labor guitar factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Yes I got those diamond files real cheap at Harbor Freight, and thought I'd try them even though I didn't expect much out of them. But, now they are all I use for fret beveling. I don't think I'd trust them for fret leveling though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perhellion Posted September 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 "Hands" are great if you've done plenty of fretwork, but I asked about the tool just for avoiding beginner mistakes ("Hands" can change angles without warning.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 Actually so can that tool so watch your fret ends as you go (take breaks and inspect after a few swipes with it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 Actually so can that tool so watch your fret ends as you go (take breaks and inspect after a few swipes with it). I've noticed with mine it tends to file more at the starting point of my stroke, and I have to watch and make sure to take more passes in the other area to even it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 Actually so can that tool so watch your fret ends as you go (take breaks and inspect after a few swipes with it). I've noticed with mine it tends to file more at the starting point of my stroke, and I have to watch and make sure to take more passes in the other area to even it out. This is where "hands" are really good too. They work really well with a pair of inspection tools that I used often - they're called "eyes". Seriously though, the human hand can feel the difference in as little as 1/100th of an inch. When I was filing the frets on my first neck, I would do exactly what Brian suggested. I would run the fret down the neck one or two passes, feel and eyeball it, repeat. I know I'm a beginner in terms of neck work and fret work, but with the right mindset even a beginner can make something of high quality if they take their time. I think the large hand file that I used was the right tool for the job, but I had to let my hand work with the tool with the mind of an artist. I'm babbling now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CudBucket Posted March 14, 2005 Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 What coarseness of file shoud I use when making such a tool? The flat files I see at the store are usually 8 or 10 inches and are smooth to coarse in finish? Is this OK for beveling or do I need smooth? Thanks. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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