Official Luthiers Forum!

Does anyone here find the Stewmac tool for beveling fret ends necessary? I use a large file to bevel the fret ends but the problem is the file is awkward to handle, and if I am not careful I can damage the guitar. I want to cut the file and mount it in a wooden jig but the problem is, I do not have a tablesaw so I can't really make the proper angled cut... only have a bandsaw.

Also I found the file isn't flat, and I suspect most files aren't flat unless they're precision ground flat and then toothed... so what works?? The Stewmac version is almost 50 dollars...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I use the StewMac fret beveler whenever I do fret work, precisely because using a long file to perform that job is awkward - especially on set necked instruments.

As for files.... they do sometimes warp in the heat treating process, despite starting out flat. All you can do is check them before you buy them.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Why can't you cut the proper angle? Handsaw is pretty quick and easy. If you need a guide to get the proper angle by hand then you could plane the angle onto the edge of a scrap piece to use as a guide.
Or you could use your band saw. Just cut the piece of wood all the way through at your desired angle then glue in a partial-depth spacer that is the same thickness as your file.

+1.
That's the way I did mine, on the bandsaw - 6 inch Faithfull brand file (check reasonably flat before you buy), knock off the tang, grind the rough bit, epoxy.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

How do I cut a file? Hacksaws won't touch them...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Abrasive cut-off wheel. Do you have a Dremel kit?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I use a chop-saw with a friction cut-off wheel. You can get an abrasive blade for a normal skil-saw.

Bob

I have a dremel type tool and cut off wheel, but I am afraid of using them on a file... it's a little too big for that. I might see to go and see if there's anyone with abrasive chop saws that I can borrow for a few minutes...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

It would be a lot easier to take the file to the chop saw!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

All you have to do is score the file then put it in a vise and hit it with a hammer. It will snap along the scored line. I use a grinder to score a line.

An old sanding belt on the belt sander and me fret ends are beveled in under 60 seconds...way faster and cheaper than any file...even if its a StewMac file.

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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What do you do when you are over the body? it gets really easy to damage the body when you need to dress the end there...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I use the StewMac file as well but have found that metal filings can get between the plastic block and frets and ding up the tops. I usually tape off the tops except for the edges so the block rides on the tape to prevent that.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.