Fret Dressing tool

[dougbgt6]

My Tele frets ends are a bit rough and I'm looking at buying a fret end dressing tool. The tool is a block with an inbuilt file, two types are advertised 45 degrees or 30 degrees. 45 I understand but 30? is that 30 to the vertical or 30 to the horizontal? What should it be for a Telecaster?

Doug

 

[ponycar]

It should be more vertical. Being more horizontal would be an easy way to ruin one's frets. I'd recommend a 3M Xtra fine sanding g sponge. It's what I prefer for all but the worst fret sprout. Rosewood boards are much easier, require less masking.

 

[Boreas]

The tool you are talking about is more of a tool to bevel raw frets after a new fret job. After beveling, they still need to be shaped. If your ends are just rough, I would consider using a concave or flat fret end dressing file or the sanding pad @ponycar mentions above. Flat/triangular fret dressing files are typically much less expensive than the concave one I use.

 

[dogmeat]

I have the 45. guitars up here seem to get fret sprout from time to time. last one I did was a Wormoth bass neck that was about 3 months old

 

[telemnemonics]

Yeah you do not need that block with angled file assembly.
That is more for production work on new necks, and not for removing roughness on in use necks.
Even for new necks I always just hand hold the file without a jig.
Guitar repair tools marketed to us forum folks are often overkill and not needed, even if not totally the wrong tool for the job.

 

[Freeman Keller]

If you have sharp fret ends, aka fret sprout, which is due to the fretboard shrinking due to low humidity, they can be dressed with a 6 inch mill bastard file which you can buy at a hardware store. The StewMac thingie that I think you are refering to holds the file at an angle and depending on the guitar that angle might change. Most of mine are around 45 but I might go a little steeper.

Once you have beveled the ends come back with a triangular file that you have made safe and round that sharp edge off. Second tool down from the top

Clean and polish the frets, then keep your guitar hydrated so you don't have to do it again.

 

[Jazzerstang]

It’s more than just the fret ends sprouting. It’s also the shaping. You need files and varying degrees of fine sand paper. I rounded/rolled the frets on this guy this past weekend.

 

[adjason]

Even a block of wood and some fine grit sandpaper should work. I do use a small file to then round over the fret ends. Just kind of look over how close to the fretboard ends the strings are- if close go light and keep the angle less. Eyeballing the angle seems to work fine for me -just go with 320 or 400 grit sandpaper and it should not be too bad. If fret sprout is real bad then as has been said- a flat file held at an angle will work.

 

[dougbgt6]

Thanks guy! You've talked me out of the tool. I've already got a fine file, fine grit sandpaper and masking tape. So I'll give it a careful go.

Doug

 

[Wallaby]

I find the "Fret End Dressing File" from StewMac works as advertised after beveling fret ends, FYI.

If you go that route, I'd make an effort to dress the new beveled frets the same way as all the rest, so they'll all look the same. I think it's easy to overwork them, and less is more.