Where to find a small handheld polishing tool to polish guitar frets.

francdore

Hey. I'm looking for a small polishing tool like the one in the image attached. Does anyone know where I can find one of these or something similar?

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/636929644/Electric-font-b-grinder-b-font-suit-mini-burnish-machine-polishing-machine-font-b-cutting-b.jpg

Thanks!

Francois

Ray

Mica, builders warehouse, your local hardware store.

rikus

I know it's not really what you're asking about, but if you want to polish frets, as opposed to reshaping/crowning frets, those little rectangular polishing sponge pad thingies women use to buff their nails works like a charm!!

Their sides are typically marked 1 to 4, with each higher number being finer than the last... It's a little bit of elbow grease, but the results are great and you don't run the risk of damaging the frets/fretboard.

francdore

Wow I never thought of that. I might give that a try...Thanks

AlanRatcliffe

Yeah - I always used to get mine from a watchmaker's supplies store, but these days you can get Dremels in lots of places (hobby shops too). A truly handy tool to have for a lot of guitar work.

francdore

Cool thanks. I'll check all hardware shops and hobby shops. I'm used to using steal wool but I'm getting sick of it because it always makes a huge mess. And it's not ideal for electric guitars because you have to cover the whole pickup area.

I saw people use 3M polishing pads, 3M polishing papers but I can't seem to find any of that.

Thanks

Manfred-Klose

this time of the year builders warehouse normally specials on dremels.

......they catch you out as there is normally attachments you need to buy you dont need just because its cool.
but normally you get a basic set of small stuff with thats handy.

francdore

Ok awesome! Thanks! I'll have a lookout for that.

Reinhard

I have been using VERY fine steelwool to remove tarnish on the fret wire. Quick and easy.

Ray

If you got to any automotive paint store you will find it. There's lots down South in Jo'burg. Sometimes not 3M but another brand - the same thing. I've got like little spongy things that come in variety of grits from moeruvva fine to quite fine and so forth. Then again with the Dremel and ryobi stuff you get little acessory kits that have got like little buffing wheels with a polishing compound as well but never used it.

Bob-Dubery

I'd try to find out how the pros do it. Using a tool like that seems risky to me - one slip and you take a chunk out of the fingerboard.

Is there not a file you should be using?

AlanRatcliffe

X-rated Bob wrote I'd try to find out how the pros do it.

They use Dremels with polishing wheels. ?

Using a tool like that seems risky to me - one slip and you take a chunk out of the fingerboard.

Not a huge issue with a relatively soft polishing wheel. Still, masking off the board is recommended, not only to prevent marring the board, but to stop polishing compound from getting in the grain of rosewood boards (which was a popular mod briefly in the late '70s BTW - Brassoing fretboards).

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
X-rated Bob wrote I'd try to find out how the pros do it.
They use Dremels with polishing wheels. ?

Using a tool like that seems risky to me - one slip and you take a chunk out of the fingerboard.
Not a huge issue with a relatively soft polishing wheel. Still, masking off the board is recommended, not only to prevent marring the board, but to stop polishing compound from getting in the grain of rosewood boards (which was a popular mod briefly in the late '70s BTW - Brassoing fretboards).

Eek! Where's that facepalm smiley?

Apologies to francdore.

francdore

X-rated Bob wrote
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
X-rated Bob wrote I'd try to find out how the pros do it.
They use Dremels with polishing wheels. ?

Using a tool like that seems risky to me - one slip and you take a chunk out of the fingerboard.
Not a huge issue with a relatively soft polishing wheel. Still, masking off the board is recommended, not only to prevent marring the board, but to stop polishing compound from getting in the grain of rosewood boards (which was a popular mod briefly in the late '70s BTW - Brassoing fretboards).
Eek! Where's that facepalm smiley?

Apologies to francdore.

HAHAHA don't worry. I'm trying to be professional and that's why I'm looking for this tool. I'm going to check out some hobby shops this weekend.

Thanks

selbydoodl

Careful with that Dremel.

They are small and look easy to use, but unless you are skilled you can make a real mess on your guitar.

Trust me - I've learned a hard lesson using one.

deebee

Adendorff Machinery Mart sell a Belgian made version of the Dremel, it's cheaper, has more variable speeds on it, and it comes with all of the attachments, including hose fitting and stand, and box of sundries. I bought one, and it works like a bomb, b-u-t, get a death grip on it when using it, same as using a hand held router [called a laminate trimmer in the stores], one slip and you'll be a very unhappy camper, but it is a very handy tool to have in your arsenal.

slyd

Can't believe I survived so many years, before I bought a Dremel ?

The single handiest tool in the shop!

WRT polishing frets; . . . . . I get great results from a little aluminium jig I made with a concave edge, around which I wrap fine waterpaper.
I fine-dress each fret with the waterpaper (usually 1500 & 2000 grit), and then turn the waterpaper around on the jig, and the buff each fret with the reverse side of the paper.
It works a dream 8)

(If you have concave-edge inserts for a fret-press caul, you could use one of them too!)

My 5c . . . . . :-[