AndrTay Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 (edited) I bought a whetstone ( 600 grit ) from Axminster in the UK a while ago ( http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-DMT-Dia...tones-21925.htm ) Apart from the available grits being different, I think they're the same as the ones sold by StewMac, also by Dia-Sharp. Stewmacs version : http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_suppl...t_Levelers.html My plan is to use the 600 grit to level my compound radius frets. Not something I've ever done before but I balked at a £90 quote I got from a luthier! [edit - I should've written 'leveller' in the topic line!] Edited June 21, 2007 by AndrTay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biliousfrog Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 they also sell very similar straight edges for far less: http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_...le=1&jump=0 As always, shop around. It seems like Stew Mac just buys stuff from hardware stores, adds "luthier" to the name & sells them as specialist tools. Some of their stuff is reasonably priced but the majority of it is far from specialist & can be bought for less elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrTay Posted June 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 (edited) Straight Edges are tricky. I've bought about three now from hardware suppliers in the UK and while they're cheap none of them give any data on how accurate they are, and if they do it's usually too inaccurate for measuring relief to any standard. But I suppose you could be lucky and get a perfectly straight one! I've seen other ones that cost quite alot of money though, they make StewMac look good value.. [edit - just found an old email from Axminster about their straight edge, they say "The tolerence on these bevelled straight edges are 0.5mm over 1 mtr"] Edited June 21, 2007 by AndrTay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biliousfrog Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 SM's edges are .0015" over a foot so not too much difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenspoke Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 I bought a whetstone ( 600 grit ) from Axminster in the UK a while ago ( http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-DMT-Dia...tones-21925.htm ) Apart from the available grits being different, I think they're the same as the ones sold by StewMac, also by Dia-Sharp. Stewmacs version : http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_suppl...t_Levelers.html My plan is to use the 600 grit to level my compound radius frets. Not something I've ever done before but I balked at a £90 quote I got from a luthier! [edit - I should've written 'leveller' in the topic line!] First its labeled "fret leveler" by Stumac in reality it is just a diamond sharpening stone (which sounds like what you have)and can be bought in any good woodworking catalog. What grits I do not know since it depends on the dealer and I guess country, 600 grit should do just fine. DMT is a high quality company who I would rely on for accuracy but they are expensive. If you have one already it cant be any worse or better than buying the SM version Stumac may quote accuracy figures and ship you a lemon. I had them replace a notched straight edge because the thing came in with a huge bow through the center, not really quality control if you ask me. Received no apology when I wrote a letter to the president Hosteler; expressing my dissatisfaction at receiving sub standard tools. Unlike most people here I have tools accurate enough to measure specs of other tools. The second notched straight edge was not perfect but within SM specs, it had been opened and checked before they shipped the replacement. I did flatten it on a piece of granite surface plate to dead flat but the first one was so bad as to be unsuitable for checking an instrument. Everything SM sells should be checked before use. My word of advise to all SM buyers. On a positive note I did buy the SM leveling beam and it was dead flat on both sides. Maybe I just lucked out. I have heard other SM stories so it's not just me. Ok now that I have bitched about SM and agree that you probably have a proper tool, the reality is how bad is your fingerboard and do you have the necessary information to properly check and level the frets? thats why your local luthier charges so much because he hopefully has the proper tools to do a complete job, level the frets, fingerboard, truss rod, intonation and maybe a nut replacement. The $180 charge (converting pounds here) could have been just a standard job estimate who knows what else is wrong. IF its just a high fret than it should be a no brainier but be aware not everything is just a black or white issue. man I am even boring myself sorry. An a alternative to the diamond grit find a 1/4" thick piece of glass cut to the right size and use PSA paper. Woodenspoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-CB- Posted June 26, 2007 Report Share Posted June 26, 2007 SM's edges are .0015" over a foot so not too much difference. Is that what they say? Thats a terrible tolerance. However, any machine shop with a surface grinder would be able to surface a straight edge to within .0005 over it ENTIRE LENGTH - and do so for practically nothing, as its about the easiest setup and grind there is. The only possible nix, is long throw surface grinders are not in every shop (my shop had only 18 inches of throw). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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