which fret crowning file?

[scubadoo]

which of the stewmac files would cover most bases for fender guitars, the narrow/medium or the medium/wide?

[jkingma]

Get the 3-in-1 and you'll be covering all bases for a lot less than the 2 files you've mentioned.

[mellecaster]

This is my Personal Favorite...in the Medium size

Dual-grit_Diamond_Fret_File_Detail.jpg

[scubadoo]

Originally Posted by jkingma

Get the 3-in-1 and you'll be covering all bases for a lot less than the 2 files you've mentioned.

Thanks, I liked the look (and price) of those but was worried they might wear out quicker as they have quite a short burr. I also wondered if the angled handle would feel awkward.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

This is my Personal Favorite...in the Medium size

Attachment 16494

+1 That's all I've been using for the last coupla years.

[Mike Fleming]

The 3 in 1 is not very useful. Like you suspect, the burr is very shallow and wears out fast. It barely cuts to begin with and after a little use it doesn't cut at all. The diamond file shown above is great and economical.

Does anybody find the Medium to be a little wide? I think it’s too wide for 6105-ish wire. (It hits the top of a leveled fret right away, instead of just the sides.) I wish they made that same tool but instead of the 150/300 on one shaft, they put a 300 medium and a 300 narrow on one shaft. The 300 cuts so well that I’ve never needed the 150 side.

[Rob DiStefano]

The Gurian crowning file with its 3 burrs is just that - a steel file. Diamond abrasive is SO much better/faster, and lasts way far longer.

The best crowning file is still the 3 file dual abrasive diamond set from Stew-Mac. Though the medium gets most of the work, it all depends on how much of the crown had to be removed and how flat the top is - it's not uncommon for me to use two different sized crowning files on one particular fret L&C.

For those who still hang on to using a steel crowning file, one should rethink their position. I'll never go back to that ancient tri-corner or Gurian again - concave diamond crowning files are THE way to go, particularly if yer doing fretwork on a daily basis. YMMV.

[Vizcaster]

The quarter-round file from Stew Mac works nicely on tall-narrow frets, and it's great for putting a hot dog curve on the end of the fret since it only works on one side at a time. I have the Luthier's Mercantile steel fret crowning files which are nice because they have one coarse and one fine edge. If I wasn't already adding to a collection of tools piece by piece, I'd be tempted to make the investment in the diamond files - besides with the old steel files I'll probably never try stainless fretwire.