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Shepherd · January 14th, 2009, 09:12 PM

I see that in most fret leveling tutorials, the levelers used are usually flat on the bottom. What I dont understand is does'nt that mess up the fret radius? If you have a 7 1/4 radius on your neck, by the time your done wont the frets be really thin in the middle? Would'nt it be better to use a leveler that has radius that matches the neck? A little confused

eryque · January 14th, 2009, 09:21 PM

You gotta move your leveler from side to side across the neck and sand evenly. It's not the hardest thing in the world to do, which I know because even I manage to do it. I use the narrow side of one of StewMac's bars.

Ricky D. · January 14th, 2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

You gotta move your leveler from side to side across the neck and sand evenly. It's not the hardest thing in the world to do, which I know because even I manage to do it. I use the narrow side of one of StewMac's bars.

+1 Color the top of the frets with a sharpie. Work the leveler from side to side until you have a siver line across the fret.

eryque · January 14th, 2009, 11:37 PM

I have a light set up directly over my workbench, so I don't even need the sharpie. It's easy enough to see where the frets have been sanded.

mellecaster · January 15th, 2009, 01:00 AM

And the proper color Tape for "Tone" is Oh so important.....

Nick JD · January 15th, 2009, 04:00 AM

Just pop the neck off, adjust the trussrod until the neck is dead straight, pop the nut out and take it out the back to the concrete patio.

Rub it up and down on the flat concrete until all the frets are mashed up and flat - then crown them with a crowning file.

Funny thing is - I know someone who did this ... and it actually worked.

I do not recommend it.

jkingma · January 15th, 2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick JD

Just pop the neck off, adjust the trussrod until the neck is dead straight, pop the nut out and take it out the back to the concrete patio.

Rub it up and down on the flat concrete until all the frets are mashed up and flat - then crown them with a crowning file.

Funny thing is - I know someone who did this ... and it actually worked.

I do not recommend it.

Sorry Nick, but I find stories like this a bit too far fetched to believe...

Old Cane · January 15th, 2009, 11:41 AM

Nick, you promised you'd never tell any one.

FraKo · January 15th, 2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick JD

Just pop the neck off, adjust the trussrod until the neck is dead straight, pop the nut out and take it out the back to the concrete patio.

Rub it up and down on the flat concrete until all the frets are mashed up and flat - then crown them with a crowning file.

Splatter movie

Nick JD · January 15th, 2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkingma

Sorry Nick, but I find stories like this a bit too far fetched to believe...

chucksmi · January 17th, 2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellecaster

And the proper color Tape for "Tone" is Oh so important.....

OK, I'll say it. That Strat is beautiful!

Telenator · January 17th, 2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucksmi

OK, I'll say it. That Strat is beautiful!

It is indeed!

I just noticed your tag line. LOL!

mellecaster · January 17th, 2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucksmi

OK, I'll say it. That Strat is beautiful!

Thank you...here are some Finished Pics

bad porcupine · January 20th, 2009, 01:21 PM

But seriously... back on topic, exactly how important is it to have your fret leveling device "perfectly" flat... how flat is flat enough? Are the StewMac and other levelers that are measured to 0.000000000001 of an inch worth the money, or can you have success with a home-made device?

Goluphi · January 20th, 2009, 01:25 PM

I bought the rounded stew-mac leveling block. Works great for me!

pengipete · January 20th, 2009, 01:41 PM

Off topic but am I the only person who sees Bad Porcupine's avatar and thinks he's about to say "No Mr Bond... I expect you to die!"

steve gibson · January 20th, 2009, 01:49 PM

Here is my cheap and effective fret leverer. Aluminum angle iron which is straight as string and stable. I cut it to four, six and twelve inch lengths. Two different grades of paper can be glued to each side (spray glue the paper not the aluminum). If you start with fine grade paper you will get a shined surface telling you where there are issues.

bad porcupine · January 20th, 2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve gibson

Here is my cheap and effective fret leverer. Aluminum angle iron which is straight as string and stable. I cut it to four, six and twelve inch lengths. Two different grades of paper can be glued to each side (spray glue the paper not the aluminum). If you start with fine grade paper you will get a shined surface telling you where there are issues.

How do you know it's straight?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pengipete

Off topic but am I the only person who sees Bad Porcupine's avatar and thinks he's about to say "No Mr Bond... I expect you to die!"

I am an evil genius, you know

steve gibson · January 20th, 2009, 02:07 PM

How do you know it's straight?

You can check it against a T-square or lay it on a table saw.

January 14th, 2009, 09:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Shepherd Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maple Ridge, Canada Posts: 1,032	Fret leveling I see that in most fret leveling tutorials, the levelers used are usually flat on the bottom. What I dont understand is does'nt that mess up the fret radius? If you have a 7 1/4 radius on your neck, by the time your done wont the frets be really thin in the middle? Would'nt it be better to use a leveler that has radius that matches the neck? A little confused

January 14th, 2009, 09:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,406 44 Photos	You gotta move your leveler from side to side across the neck and sand evenly. It's not the hardest thing in the world to do, which I know because even I manage to do it. I use the narrow side of one of StewMac's bars. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

January 14th, 2009, 11:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,406 44 Photos	I have a light set up directly over my workbench, so I don't even need the sharpie. It's easy enough to see where the frets have been sanded. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

January 15th, 2009, 01:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
mellecaster VENDOR Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 7,655 17 Photos	And the proper color Tape for "Tone" is Oh so important..... __________________ Expert Repair....ReCrafting...and Set-ups Making your World a Better Place...One Guitar at a time

January 15th, 2009, 04:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
Nick JD Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2007 Location: North NSW, Australia Age: 37 Posts: 4,856	Just pop the neck off, adjust the trussrod until the neck is dead straight, pop the nut out and take it out the back to the concrete patio. Rub it up and down on the flat concrete until all the frets are mashed up and flat - then crown them with a crowning file. Funny thing is - I know someone who did this ... and it actually worked. I do not recommend it. __________________

January 15th, 2009, 11:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
Old Cane Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Age: 48 Posts: 2,272	Nick, you promised you'd never tell any one. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/otiskeithwatkins

January 20th, 2009, 01:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
bad porcupine Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 48 Posts: 457 9 Photos	But seriously... back on topic, exactly how important is it to have your fret leveling device "perfectly" flat... how flat is flat enough? Are the StewMac and other levelers that are measured to 0.000000000001 of an inch worth the money, or can you have success with a home-made device? __________________ * http://www.irrealis.net/ *

January 20th, 2009, 01:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
Goluphi Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 456	I bought the rounded stew-mac leveling block. Works great for me!

January 20th, 2009, 01:41 PM	#16 (permalink)
pengipete Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 3,557	Off topic but am I the only person who sees Bad Porcupine's avatar and thinks he's about to say "No Mr Bond... I expect you to die!"

January 20th, 2009, 02:07 PM	#19 (permalink)
steve gibson Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: fort dodge, iowa Age: 58 Posts: 410	How do you know it's straight? You can check it against a T-square or lay it on a table saw. __________________ Buildin' and Playin'

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