fret dressing files

[old_picker]

i am gonna spring for some files ex stewmac
one one of these

and one this

for dressing fret ends

of the 3 corner set which one would be most usefull?

[Rob DiStefano]

For fret END dressing, if you wanna BUY all yer tooling, get ...

...6" fret leveling file trims the fret ends flush to the fingerboard edges ...


... safe edge fret end file rounds off the fret end sharp corners ...


... Micro Mesh abrasive further rounds and polishes the fret ends ...

[old_picker]

mmm ok
what about one of these?



pretty pricey though

[Rob DiStefano]

That's fine IF you want that 35 degree "Fender" fret end angle - not for me, I want the fret ends at zero to maybe a 10 degree angle so that I get more playing surface use out of the frets/fingerboard.

[jwells393]

If you have a table saw and a bench grinder you can make your own fret end bevel files. You could make them the angle of your choice. The bench grinder is used cut a 10 or 12 in. mill bastard file. You grind each side of the file until you're able to break it.

......

[eryque]

OP, keep in mind that a lot of this is personal preference. The tools you like to use and feel comfortable with may be different than those that anyone else does.

For crowning I like the concave files as I don't trust myself to work a crown with a flat sided file without making flatspots. I have this one from StewMac with traditional file teeth, but I also found a diamond one on ebay that was even cheaper. I haven't tried it yet.




I made an edge beveling file very much like the one StewMac sells.


I use the file you posted for dressing the ends of the frets and like it a lot.

[old_picker]

Originally Posted by jwells393

If you have a table saw and a bench grinder you can make your own fret end bevel files. You could make them the angle of your choice. The bench grinder is used cut a 10 or 12 in. mill bastard file. You grind each side of the file until you're able to break it.

......

yeah thats the go
i am gonna make those fret end files
try a few difrent angles

i also use a concave file
i guess i will just get the lil fellah rob recomends

[Vizcaster]

Check if you can to see if the double-sided crowning files have two different file cuts - for instance medium and fine. Some of them are the same on both sides, for instance the less expensive ones sold as a set with the colorful plastic coated handles (narrow, medium, wide) at Luthier's mercantile. The individual files at LMII have a nice hardwood handle and have two cuts - fast and slow. There's also the quarter-round file from Stew Mac which is helpful for fret ends, but can't really crown wide wire.

[Rob DiStefano]

These are the absolute sh!t for fret crowning ...

[tdowns]

Originally Posted by jwells393

..... The bench grinder is used cut a 10 or 12 in. mill bastard file. You grind each side of the file until you're able to break it.

You are so resourceful Jack. Me, I just rely on my BIG tools, like my 14" Dewalt chop saw to cut files. Ugggghhhh (or whatever sound Tim the tool man makes).

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

These are the absolute sh!t for fret crowning ...

I followed Rob's lead on that file system and I've been very satisfied. The angled file makes it possible to work on guitars with non-removeable necks, so you can crown the frets near the body.

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

These are the absolute sh!t for fret crowning ...

I took your advice on that one awhile back Rob...and now it's my Favorite also!

[Nick JD]

Originally Posted by tdowns

You are so resourceful Jack. Me, I just rely on my BIG tools, like my 14" Dewalt chop saw to cut files. Ugggghhhh (or whatever sound Tim the tool man makes).

I used a hacksaw. Yep - a $5.99c Chinese one with a slightly blunt blade. All the time I was hacking, I was pondering this: "If a diamond is the hardest substance, how do they cut diamonds?"

35 minutes later I had my answer. Reminds me about the guy who broke out of prison by sawing through his cell window bars with dental floss.