Tools For Fretwork

[jipp]

Hi, im getting ready to start on my second cigarbox guitar i plan on using frets this time.

I plan on ordering the following from stew-mac:

Fret Slotting Miter Box

scale template

fretwire

reason im even asking is because when i started building bows years ago I bought a bunch of stuff i neevr ended up using. So, i dont want to make the same mistake twice starting a new hobbie. Thank you very much for any info.

chris.

[unclej]

Hi, im getting ready to start on my second cigarbox guitar i plan on using frets this time.

I plan on ordering the following from stew-mac:

Fret Slotting Miter Box

scale template

fretwire

reason im even asking is because when i started building bows years ago I bought a bunch of stuff i neevr ended up using. So, i dont want to make the same mistake twice starting a new hobbie. Thank you very much for any info.

chris.

that's a good start..in addition you're going to need some type of small fretting hammer if you're not going to seat them with a press. i use an old trim carpenter's hammer but you can get the double sided (brass and plastic) from stewmac as well. you'll need some way to pre- radius the fret wire. i use stewmac's plyers made for that purpose. you'll also need some kind of cutter. i got a pair from stewmac but bought my backups much cheaper at my local hardware store.

then you're going to need a small file for dressing the ends. if you want to make sure the frets are level you'll need a radiusing block and some 4-500 grit sandpaper and a crowning file.

lots of new toys, eh?

good luck

[jipp]

Hi, thank you. I have one of the hammers already. so that will save me a buck or three. looks like i need a lot more than i orginaly thought. guess ill order some new toys tonight.

Chris.

[prs man]

buying the fret press is money well spent.

I'm new at building neck I have built around 10 necks.

I bought a fret press to go into a drill press and the frets go in smoth and less work is needed to get them level.

I will also add that the diamond fret file works fast.

thinking about the cost of everything and how many necks you will build over the years it is worth the money.

good luck

PRS MAN

[WezV]

You dont nee specialist tools for everything, make do with what you have. I would definatly get the fretsaw because then you know the frets will fit!! The mitre box and fret scale templates are real time savers but i wouldnt get them unless you are building lots. You can use any kind of sharp cutters for trimming the frets, but obviously you will have more to file off if you are not using flush cutters. I use a large mill file for fret levelling and small needle files for fret shaping. I radius my fretwire with a small saw kerf in my workbench, pull it through, bend it round and its close enough!! I sometimes buy it in coils as well. I use the stew-mac fret press caul in my drill press because i could never get the hang of the hamer, but as long as you practice on scrap first i am sure you will get it, like PRS man said, you need to do less levelling when they are pressed in. I use the tang nippers because it gives a neater look to the edge of the fretboard but these are not neccisary.

Most of the tools stew-mac sells are time savers rather than the only way to do the job!! If you already have plenty of tools you can probably find another way

[thirdstone]

Buy a pre slotted fretboard for a start, costs a little more but saves tool costs and it will be more accurate.

If you buy fret wire in a coil you don,t need to bend it thus saving again on tooling.

IMHO the minimum is a small soft head hamer , 6" hand smooth file and sidecutters and a radius sanding block to get the fretboard even radius.

Thats the minimum. I would add to make life easy , a fret press is the best way to get em in, a proper fret file ,the fret saw to fine tune the fret slot depth after radiusing, diamond sharpening stone for leveling and if you re binding the neck the stew mac tang nippers are the ducks guts.

alot of practice will go along way to getting a first up good fret job.

Good luck

[jipp]

Hi, well iv decided to hold off on spending a lot of money up front. So i bought a fret scale ruler, and the saw, im holding off on the miter box till later. I orderd some fret wire.

and i orderd a radius block, and i have several files already. so ill go from there. I know ill end up buying the miterbox probably later but i figured id give it a go with out it first. But i was thinking, and just seem logical to go slow till i figure out what im doing first hand. I apreaciate all the responces.

Im working on a cigarbox guitar now and im thinking i need to make a acoustic bridge for it. so i did a search and ill be darn if i can find any info on building one. About all ic ould find is they sell a tool to ream the hole out in 5 degrees or i forget what teh other one is.

is this tool needed for making the bridge for a acoustic? if so ill need to get one since thats best way it seems to ancore the bridge down on these cigarbox guitars.

chris,

[n8rofwyo]

This is certainly not my area of expertise.... but my impression is that the reamers were used to fit the bridge pins. As far as the bridge being fixed to the instrument it seems that most are just glued, though some are bolted and others screwed.

Hopefully someone with more direct experience will answer.

Good Luck!

Nate Robinson

[Setch]

You can make a pinless style bridge, and glue it down. No need for pins, or a pin reamer, unless you want them.

[Logical Frank]

Can I add another question to this? What kind of stuff would I want to get if I just wanted to do some fretwork and maintanence on already finished necks? Same stuff?

[JohnRossitter]

Hi, im getting ready to start on my second cigarbox guitar i plan on using frets this time.

I plan on ordering the following from stew-mac:

Fret Slotting Miter Box

scale template

fretwire

reason im even asking is because when i started building bows years ago I bought a bunch of stuff i neevr ended up using. So, i dont want to make the same mistake twice starting a new hobbie. Thank you very much for any info.

chris.

that's a good start..in addition you're going to need some type of small fretting hammer if you're not going to seat them with a press. i use an old trim carpenter's hammer but you can get the double sided (brass and plastic) from stewmac as well. you'll need some way to pre- radius the fret wire. i use stewmac's plyers made for that purpose. you'll also need some kind of cutter. i got a pair from stewmac but bought my backups much cheaper at my local hardware store.

then you're going to need a small file for dressing the ends. if you want to make sure the frets are level you'll need a radiusing block and some 4-500 grit sandpaper and a crowning file.

lots of new toys, eh?

good luck

What kind of wood are you using for the neck?

Be careful that you are not hammering down on a delicate wood that's going to take on the shape of whatever you are laying it on.

From my experience (I have done both ways.) spend the 30 bucks a Harbor Freight and get an arbor press to press your frets with....Again you will need to be careful of the type of wood you use, because you can just as easily press the shape of something nasty onto your neck.

Good luck

Edited September 6, 2006 by JohnRossitter