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Simple question. What is the advantage of this particular file over a flat or 3 square file? - assuming the edges are ground safe.

Filippo. It's the one that Stewmac sell for fret recrowning, or the one that Frank Ford speaks so highly of. Perhaps it isn't a cant saw file and my memory is playing tricks. It's 3 cornered, that's for sure but with different angles in comparison to the more common 3 cornered file. I'm just struggling to understand the advantage over 'normal' files.

When your saw gets to where it won't saw, then you definitely neeeed a can't saw file!

Joe

Joe: For me it's "can't file a saw". Served my time as a machinist and am very familiar with working with metal but doing a good job on filing a saw never happened with me.I can manage to get it to cut but it's not something I would want to show to someone who is able to do a good job.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I have the file in question. I got it after reading the glowing review from Frank Ford. While I don't know if it is better than other files with safe edges I do know that it works well and I like it. It is relatively hefty and feels good in the hand. It allows me to shape the fret ends (I like pyramids) and I do not often mar the fret board with it. If I mask the fret board (I started this on my last one) with tape I get no marring at all. After I removed the tape I had to touch up but it was easy.

I feel that it was worth the investment.

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http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

Stephen. Have you tried re-crowning with that file or is just used for the fret ends?

I've used cantsaw files for fret crowning for 35+ years. It's how I was taught. The difference between it and a three corner is twofold: it has no taper, and its angles are 30-120-30. You grind and sand the 120º corner safe. Do this asymmetrically so that you can tilt it a bit to the right (if you are right handed) without filing the board. Then the left side of the file is used for crowning. You end up with two corners on the fret top that have to be rounded by sanding. I use a 10" for the sides of the frets, and then a 6" for the end corners.

Most recently, I have been using a diamond crowning file instead. The two grit one from StewMac.
It does both edges at once, and if you tilt it right, it can also do the ends.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Michael-

I have only ever used if for the fret ends. I use a diamond one like Mr. Klepper for crowning. Listen to Mr. Klepper when he speaks. He knows what the hell he is doing.

If you can crown with the can't saw then you can save quite a bit of money on the diamond files for sure.

As an aside I do not use a file to level frets but a straight wooden block lamination with 1500 grit sand paper affixed to it. This provides a very delicate touch and I take as little off of the frets as possible in leveling. This makes re-crowning much less work since I have not take off much in the first place.

I took a class from a local luthier on fretting and my fret work is now ok but it is an art in itself and I am always looking to do better.

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http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

I.ve previously used either an ordinary small flat file or even a needle file for fret recrowning. I don't really have a problem with the standard fretwire. It's the smaller/thinner fretwire that is difficult to get looking 'correct'. I also have the 3 in 1 Gurian steel burr affair but I dislike it. I can do a better job with an ordinary file.
I haven't caught up with the modern diamond files, not yet anyway.