Polishing frets

Cliff · June 17th, 2003, 10:20 AM

I just "cleaned up" the frets on my Tele with some #0000 guage steel wool. I'd like to polish them out...maybe using a small wheel on my Dremel tool. Any suggestions for a polishing compound that I might use? Thanks.

steve s · June 17th, 2003, 02:26 PM

I would imagine that regular ole jewelers roughe (?) would work well. I always just left em after the #0000. I thought they looks great after that. I guess I rubbed the heck out of em!

Rob DiStefano · June 17th, 2003, 02:42 PM

I see no need to polish frets beyond using #0000 steel wool, 6000-12000 Micro Mesh, FinesseIt-II. Typically, after a fret/level job, while the fingerboard's taped off, I just run from Klingspor 600 through 1500-6000 Micro Mesh, wrapping the abrassive over a rounded edge of medium density rubber and runing this briskly over the frets.

It's a fast enough job to do by hand ... whatever polishing process you adopt, make sure there are no possiblities of taking off too much metal and make the frets un-level.

Cliff · June 17th, 2003, 09:23 PM

Rob - Where do you buy the micro mesh? Is this an automotive type of product? I assume that the rubber block you use squishes over the frets so that the mesh rubs on the entire surface of the fret on each stroke.

Remember, I live in a tourist town, where I can buy 30 different types of sun tan lotion, but not much that is useful. :)

Funny, after the 0000 steel wool, my frets feel a little scratchy when I bend the strings. Thus, my thoughts about polishing the frets.....

undafonk · June 18th, 2003, 02:37 AM

As you can see in Mr. DiStefano's pictures, you should cover your pickups withs some cardboard/plastic and tape.

I suppose most people already know - but those small metal scraps that are a result of polishing with steel wool could end up in your magnetic pickups and possibly wreak havoc...

Rob DiStefano · June 18th, 2003, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff

Rob - Where do you buy the micro mesh?

Stew-Mac

Cliff · June 18th, 2003, 10:00 AM

Thanks for the thoughts, guys. Love that blue look on the fret board, Rob.

Cliff

Rob DiStefano · June 18th, 2003, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff

Thanks for the thoughts, guys. Love that blue look on the fret board, Rob.

Cliff

Just a coupla dimes worth of Home Depot low tack painter's tape. 8)

shrimperdan · June 18th, 2003, 12:00 PM

I usually use a small buffing wheel on the Dremel and some automotive polishing compound I have. Make sure you stick the tape on your pants a few times before you put it on the fretboard, that way you won't be left with a sticky residue. Also, I have heard that you should go easy with the Dremel, as a lot of friction will build up heat which could potentially loosen the glue and lift the fret. (not sure about that though)

Rob DiStefano · June 18th, 2003, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrimperdan

I usually use a small buffing wheel on the Dremel and some automotive polishing compound I have. Make sure you stick the tape on your pants a few times before you put it on the fretboard, that way you won't be left with a sticky residue.

If you use low tack tape (drafting, painters, etc.), residue isn't an issue - if there is any residue, it'll get cleaned up instantly when you wipe down the board with naptha to clean and prep for a final oiling.

Also, I have heard that you should go easy with the Dremel, as a lot of friction will build up heat which could potentially loosen the glue and lift the fret. (not sure about that though)

This might be an issue with some kinds of glues used during fret installation, but you've really gotta rev the wheel for that kinda friction to occur, IMO. However, I see absolutely NO need to take a chance polishing frets with a Dremel. Doing the buffing procedure I outlined above is both many times safer and so much faster.

As always, IMO and YMMV.

June 17th, 2003, 10:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cliff Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Left Coast Posts: 168 3 Photos	Polishing frets I just "cleaned up" the frets on my Tele with some #0000 guage steel wool. I'd like to polish them out...maybe using a small wheel on my Dremel tool. Any suggestions for a polishing compound that I might use? Thanks.

June 17th, 2003, 09:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cliff Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Left Coast Posts: 168 3 Photos	Micro mesh Rob - Where do you buy the micro mesh? Is this an automotive type of product? I assume that the rubber block you use squishes over the frets so that the mesh rubs on the entire surface of the fret on each stroke. Remember, I live in a tourist town, where I can buy 30 different types of sun tan lotion, but not much that is useful. :) Funny, after the 0000 steel wool, my frets feel a little scratchy when I bend the strings. Thus, my thoughts about polishing the frets.....

June 18th, 2003, 02:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
undafonk Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands Posts: 534 47 Photos	Superfluous maybe, but - cover your pickups As you can see in Mr. DiStefano's pictures, you should cover your pickups withs some cardboard/plastic and tape. I suppose most people already know - but those small metal scraps that are a result of polishing with steel wool could end up in your magnetic pickups and possibly wreak havoc...

June 18th, 2003, 10:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
Cliff Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Left Coast Posts: 168 3 Photos	Thanks Thanks for the thoughts, guys. Love that blue look on the fret board, Rob. Cliff

June 17th, 2003, 02:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	I would imagine that regular ole jewelers roughe (?) would work well. I always just left em after the #0000. I thought they looks great after that. I guess I rubbed the heck out of em!

June 17th, 2003, 02:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,666	I see no need to polish frets beyond using #0000 steel wool, 6000-12000 Micro Mesh, FinesseIt-II. Typically, after a fret/level job, while the fingerboard's taped off, I just run from Klingspor 600 through 1500-6000 Micro Mesh, wrapping the abrassive over a rounded edge of medium density rubber and runing this briskly over the frets. It's a fast enough job to do by hand ... whatever polishing process you adopt, make sure there are no possiblities of taking off too much metal and make the frets un-level.

June 18th, 2003, 12:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
shrimperdan NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3	I usually use a small buffing wheel on the Dremel and some automotive polishing compound I have. Make sure you stick the tape on your pants a few times before you put it on the fretboard, that way you won't be left with a sticky residue. Also, I have heard that you should go easy with the Dremel, as a lot of friction will build up heat which could potentially loosen the glue and lift the fret. (not sure about that though)