Awesome Fret Polisher!

Over the years I've used different things to polish frets.
I used Brasso, that worked great, but was messy.
I've been using polishing paper for the last few years. You can get them on StewMac, but I found a new method that works just as well as anything, is much quicker and CHEAP!

One day I noticed my wife buffing her nails. It dawned on me that nails are softer than frets, so whatever she is using won't hurt frets, and should be able to polish frets just as well as fingernails.

Thus enters the "Ms. Manicure Block Part 4 way buffing block".

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i366/EmitLBrown/polish.jpg

I just use it like the instructions say, and I get a really nice, highly polished fret!

Here is a sample, I don't have any before and after photos yet, but I used the block to polish the frets on this Strat.

http://photoweborama.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/dsc_7671.jpg?w=640&h=

The cost???? $1.00 at Wal*Mart!

Very cool idea next time I get to walmart Im picking this up, what did you use to cover the board, masking tape?

Do you work your way up through the 4 grits?

Very cool, will have to try that. A nice alternative to superfine steel wool. As for taping off the fingerboard, I use and reccomend drafting tape. Super low tac like post it notes. The stuff is used to tape paper and vellum down and be removed without tearing, so it is really gentle on the fingerboard.

Specific low-tack tapes for fingerboards and lacquered surfaces:

Drafting tape:

3M™ Low Tack Paper Tape (Product ID: 3051)


Sign painter's tape:

ScotchBlue™ Painters Tape for Delicate Surfaces (Product ID: 2080)

Brian

If you have access to a Beauty supply and can shop with a licensed (card carrying) beautician, you can pick up a variety (grits) of sanding and polishing blocks for about 55 cents a block. These places have all sorts of things that can be "re-purposed".
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t145/Lost_N_Austin/Tools/PolishingTools.jpg?t=1331853228

Lost_N_Austin

Good idea.

Plus your wife should be happy that you actually noticed something that she was doing. Win-Win!!!

You don't have to tape the board off at all. If you press right, it polished the crowns and never touches the fretboard.

I don't tape them, I hate to tape boards.... It's just so time consuming. If I can find a way to do things the easy way.... I do it!

These things are not abbrasive enough that you should need to tape the fretboard. They're literally for buffing the finish of the fingernails, so they'd just buff the freboard too. Just be careful not to wear it down against the edge of the fretboard.

These things are not abbrasive enough that you should need to tape the fretboard. They're literally for buffing the finish of the fingernails, so they'd just buff the freboard too. Just be careful not to wear it down against the edge of the fretboard.Now there you go!

Anybody tried the Gorgomyte stuff?

These things are not abbrasive enough that you should need to tape the fretboard. They're literally for buffing the finish of the fingernails, so they'd just buff the freboard too. Just be careful not to wear it down against the edge of the fretboard.

Just to confirm, its ok for a maple board? Im just wanting to get my frets slick and shiny again.

Just to confirm, its ok for a maple board? Im just wanting to get my frets slick and shiny again.

Doesn't matter what kind of wood is under the finish :-)

It seems that on the Gear Page, that lots of people were already doing it.
And it seems StewMac also has the same thing with individual blocks instead of one with four different grits... but theirs will cost you $30.00!
I'll save the $29.00 and buy mine at Wal*Mart!

Specific low-tack tapes for fingerboards and lacquered surfaces:

Drafting tape:

3M™ Low Tack Paper Tape (Product ID: 3051)


Sign painter's tape:

ScotchBlue™ Painters Tape for Delicate Surfaces (Product ID: 2080)

Brian

Thanks cool.

Great tip.Thanks

I think it's great when people can repurpose something like this, and even better when they share it. Thank you.

I once used one of my wife's old emery boards to file down the fret ends on an Affinity Squire Strat that I had just brought home. We were sitting on the couch, me strumming my new guitar, she filing her nails. The fret sprout was pretty bad on this thing, so I grabbed one of her old nail-filing boards and went to town! I had to go very slowly so I wouldn't nick the wood, but otherwise it worked fine. Good enough to stop the frets from cutting up my hand.

The fret erasers that StewMac sells are much different, but you can use them for about the same thing.

I've been trying to figure out exactly what they are to see if there's a cheaper way to source them, but all I can find is that they may be a jewler's tool. Can't find a source, though.

From what I understand, the stewmac ones have abrasives embedded in the blocks in the material itself, so it won't really wear down... but I can buy 30 of these things for the same price!