Where to find a fret crowning file.

francdore

Hey, I've tried using a flat file and masking tape to crown a fret. But a proper rounded file would be much better. We don't have a Steward Mac shop in South Africa so where would I be able to find a tool like this?

Thanks

Neon-Gecko

Unfortunately you'll only get a specialised file like that from Stumac. We import from them regularly and have never had a problem.

francdore

Hey, do you import them for personal use or would I be able to buy one from you? And how much would that be?

Thanks

Neon-Gecko

They can be pretty costly as they are a very specialised tool. Anywhere between $ 46 -$ 99 for one file, and you would normally use more than one for different grits. So for just doing one guitar, I'd rather save money and take it to a guitar tech.

Clint-Green

I'm not saying this is a great idea but I bought a set of needle files from Mica and used the triangular one to crown for my first refret about 2 months ago. It takes more time and patience than the specialized Stew-Mac files do but after doing a few you get the hang of the motions you need to make in order to get a nice rounded fret with just a tiny, tiny flat in the center. This is pretty much what luthiers used before places like Stew-Mac came along.

If this is your first refret I strongly recommend getting hold of a cheap neck to practice on (maybe a real cheap, nasty guitar from Cash Crusaders or something along those lines). All in all doing a practice refret on a cheapy and then still doing your good guitar will probably end up costing you the same as it would to take your axe it to a luthier to do it but if you're keen on learning to do it yourself, don't use a prized neck as your guinea-pig. Please believe me, I know! I refretted my prized Ibanez original Wizard neck for my first ever try and I am very sorry that I didn't practice on a cheapy first. Live and learn, ey (or I could have just taken the advice of others and practiced first!).

Stew-Mac are great, by the way!

slyd

Hi francdore

I used needle files for ages, incorporating a handy rounded homemade jig used with fine sandpaper for the final crowning

I would file a pyramid shape to the fret, then using the jig, run through 1000, 1200, 1500 paper (wrapped around the jig) to create a perfect crown.

The jig I made with a piece of aluminium, using a round needle file to create the concave rounded edge.
This really works, but takes a bit of time. If you're not doing a lot of necks, then this would save you a lot of money. 8)

I only just bought an offset diamond fret file from stewmac ($99 before shipping and vat), cos the amount of fretwork I do now requires a much faster production line.

Give it a go, unless you have "splodges of whonga" (as Bob would say) ?

AlanRatcliffe

I used the modified triangle file for 10 years (corners rounded off with a grinder and smoothed so they don't chew the board) - nice in that they work on any size or height wire. Not the mini key/needle files, but a full size one that runs on the board, helping you get a more consistent angle. I also had the metal board protectors, which saved me a ton of masking tape and time.

The proper rounded fret files are quicker though... ? I have one sitting in a cup on my desk (with nut files and peg winder, etc.).

francdore

It's funny that you said I should use a cheap guitar from Cash Crusaders. This Guitar I'm working on now is a old Washburg Shadow series electric guitar which I bought for R600.

It's got a couple of bumps and bruises on the body and that's why I'm fixing it up.

Clint Green wrote: I'm not saying this is a great idea but I bought a set of needle files from Mica and used the triangular one to crown for my first refret about 2 months ago. It takes more time and patience than the specialized Stew-Mac files do but after doing a few you get the hang of the motions you need to make in order to get a nice rounded fret with just a tiny, tiny flat in the center. This is pretty much what luthiers used before places like Stew-Mac came along.

If this is your first refret I strongly recommend getting hold of a cheap neck to practice on (maybe a real cheap, nasty guitar from Cash Crusaders or something along those lines). All in all doing a practice refret on a cheapy and then still doing your good guitar will probably end up costing you the same as it would to take your axe it to a luthier to do it but if you're keen on learning to do it yourself, don't use a prized neck as your guinea-pig. Please believe me, I know! I refretted my prized Ibanez original Wizard neck for my first ever try and I am very sorry that I didn't practice on a cheapy first. Live and learn, ey (or I could have just taken the advice of others and practiced first!).

Stew-Mac are great, by the way!

Clint-Green

Hehe I should have said get hold of a cheap neck that isn't dear to you since I paid 500 bucks for my RG ?

AlanRatcliffe

It's actually a range of widths for each. Medium and wide will cover 99% of what you need unless you do a lot of banjos and mandolins too.