Fretboard tools

Wizard

These look like useful (expensive) tools:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Leveling/Fretboard_Radius-sanding_Blocks/Aluminum_Radius-sanding_Beam.html

Do these only work well in the hands of the experienced luthier?
Or do they work for the amateur too?

MikeM

You don't need the super fancy one hey... But they are a bit handy.. Manfred I think made me 2 when he had his made. Chat to him maybe he can guide you in the right direction to source some locally.

AlanRatcliffe

Yes they are nice, but they are pricey and there's nothing wrong with the wooden ones unless you are going to be levelling frets all day every day.

Wizard

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Yes they are nice, but they are pricey and there's nothing wrong with the wooden ones unless you are going to be levelling frets all day every day.

wooden ones?
what wooden ones?

Gearhead

... the ones that Manfred has made ... ?

AlanRatcliffe

Or these from Stewmac:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Leveling/Fretboard_Radius-sanding_Blocks/8_Wooden_Radius-sanding_Blocks.html

Or the cool double-sided ones from Luthier's Mercantile:

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Radiusing&NameProdHeader=Radius+Blocks

Manfred-Klose

i heard a rumour that manfred still has a extra set of 9.5'' and 12'' lying around............

Wizard

Manfred Klose wrote i heard a rumour that manfred still has a extra set of 9.5'' and 12'' lying around............

Just out of interest ... how did you make them Manny?

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Or these from Stewmac:

Ah ... much, much cheaper ... don't know why I didn't spot those ...

But ... my main question was:
Are they easy to use? Or do you require the skills of a luthier?

MikeM

I used mine. Worked out ok, but next time I use them (or perhaps now that you're going to use them) I'd start a thread.

There's some debate as to whether one must get the neck perfectly straight, or if one should slack the truss rod and then level..

AlanRatcliffe

A neck should be straight without string or truss tension on it.

Gearhead

+1, where's the debate? A truss rod under tension bends a neck without strings backward so the middle frets will be too low once the strings come back on.
Starting with a straight straight neck, the string pull in combination with the truss rod tension, should produce an elliptical curve just like the amplitude of the string vibrating.

Manfred-Klose

Just out of interest ... how did you make them Manny?

i had it CNC'd , its alot of hassle getting all the stuff drawn up and having to work with stuborn CNC guys is not very fun to do.

in the future i'd rather buy pre made ones from stew mac............... ?

Wizard

Is there an easy way to discover the fretboard radius of a neck you already have?

Gearhead

The Strat neck you have is in all likelihood 9.5" but you can check by making a gauge (which you can later use to adjust bridge radii). Simply draw an arc of the desired diameter onto a piece of paper and sand off a piece of plate (perspex?) until it follows the arc.

Riaan

Maybe Alan will buy a Plek machine... ?...that would save us all a lot of hassle won't it?

AlanRatcliffe

Sorry - don't have EUR100,000 free at the moment. ?

Anyway, guys complain about R1K for a fret dress, double that and see how they moan... ?

Manny - my 9.5" block is in need of replacement. PM me a price on that "spare". ?

Wizard

Just had an idea; as an extension of Gearhead's idea.

A jigsaw or router can cut circles by attaching an "arm" of the radius length to a pivot point.
Can therefore take a strip of plywood or MDF and cut circle sections.
Starting outside and moving in ... at 16", 14", 12", ...
Will create a "radius template kit".
Can estimate the radius of any fretboard by finding the best fit.