82cabby Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 So.... I was in the process of fretting a new fingerboard on a new neck and I hit the end of a fret a little to hard, or the wood was a little to soft and 'donk' in went the fret. It's not real real 'over driven', but I think it will take a LOT of leveling to bring it into line as is. So my question is, what do I do now? Here's the photo: Any hints? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 Never done this before, but intuition tells me you just pull it, fill the fret slot, recut the slot, and try again. Or water it regularly and see if it will grow a fret tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Never done this before, but intuition tells me you just pull it, fill the fret slot, recut the slot, and try again. Or water it regularly and see if it will grow a fret tree. +1 minus the watering. Another thing I might attempt before filling the slot is to wet the slot and steam with an iron to try and pull the wood back up. Of course you might have to sand and polish again after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim37 Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I know your joking but I have heard people taking dents out by putting water on then making the wood expand. You would have to pull the fret first. But it might work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotYou Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I know your joking but I have heard people taking dents out by putting water on then making the wood expand. You would have to pull the fret first. But it might work. Yes. Use a soldering iron over a damp/wet cloth to make steam. It works for most wood indentations and dries quickly because of the heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I know your joking but I have heard people taking dents out by putting water on then making the wood expand. You would have to pull the fret first. But it might work. I wasn't joking. I have done this hundreds of times on tops and fretboards (If I had a dime for every time I dropped a tool on a top and dented it). Never tried it on a fret slot but fail to see why it will be different. Pull the fret and steam it. 98% of the time the dent will pull out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotYou Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 (edited) ...I have done this hundreds of times on tops and fretboards (If I had a dime for every time I dropped a tool on a top and dented it)... ... steam it. 98% of the time the dent will pull out. Truth. I've done it countless times. Every time was because I did something stupid and dented the wood. Edited November 30, 2011 by NotYou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I just dented a top by laying it down on the table and not realizing there was a small chunk of bloodwood on the table top under the body. After flipping it over and finding a small piece of BW semi-indented into the swamp ash, I thought I was S.O.L. ..... I'll try the steam method and see if I can reverse it any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82cabby Posted December 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2011 Thanks gang! I will try the steam technique this weekend and report back. There is a SMALL amount of hide glue on the fret tang to fill any gaps, so the steam should help clear that out too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim37 Posted December 1, 2011 Report Share Posted December 1, 2011 I know your joking but I have heard people taking dents out by putting water on then making the wood expand. You would have to pull the fret first. But it might work. I wasn't joking. I have done this hundreds of times on tops and fretboards (If I had a dime for every time I dropped a tool on a top and dented it). Never tried it on a fret slot but fail to see why it will be different. Pull the fret and steam it. 98% of the time the dent will pull out. sorry i ment that for Dpm99 i was on my phone i guess i missed your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotYou Posted December 1, 2011 Report Share Posted December 1, 2011 Thanks gang! I will try the steam technique this weekend and report back. There is a SMALL amount of hide glue on the fret tang to fill any gaps, so the steam should help clear that out too. Fold the cloth over a bit and don't hold down the soldering iron down for too long, so the heat won't burn the wood. Otherwise, you'll have a new problem. The steam won't burn the wood, though. Just watch the hot tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted December 2, 2011 Report Share Posted December 2, 2011 I use a small travel iron capable of steam for dents in unfinished tops instead of a soldering iron. I only use the soldering iron for small dents (like the fretboard) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82cabby Posted December 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 So I got it fixed! I pulled the fret then did the steam trick. That brought it 90% of the way back. I carefully flowed in a little CA in to firm up the wood and...good as new. Well, not quite since I popped a couple of flakes when pulling the fret but. No biggie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotYou Posted December 7, 2011 Report Share Posted December 7, 2011 You're not a luthier until you screw something up then spend a bunch of time fixing it, so nobody ever finds out. It's quite a skill, really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mors Phagist Posted December 8, 2011 Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 You're not a luthier until you screw something up then spend a bunch of time fixing it, so nobody ever finds out. It's quite a skill, really. Thats the real art of being a craftsman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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