Official Luthiers Forum!

Candle wax on the fret/in the slot to ease them in? Anyone tried it? Obviously it will prevent any gluing further down the line.

That isn't necessary... a bit of woodworking glue (I use titebond) lubricates the fret making it easier to go in, and the glue hardens holding the frets in.

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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'd guess wax would promote the frets becoming unseated later on as well...

Yeah what goes up must go down. I think the point is that you 'want' resistance when hammering in frets. The energy from the friction created by forcing the fret into the slot is what holds it in. I like to dab a bit of glue on myself and have used Titebond but I think I will start using fish glue.

I'm with Tai Fu - easy in, but not so easy out.
Feeling a little facetious today are we, Mr Morelli?

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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.

Bar soap works better than candle wax, at least it does on woodscrew threads. I don't think it would be a good idea on frets.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

So you wanna ease them frets in eh...

Well you need KY Gel, it will definitely help slip them right in there.

Of course there is always the old stand by...petroleum jelly.

Then to stop them from slippin out, just pour on a nice thick layer of epoxy.

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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Padma: Don Teeter would be proud of you!!!!

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

If getting the proper fret slot width is out of the question then saturate the fretboard surface with liquid silicone. It comes in spray cans. This is best done before finishing because topcoats can overspray into the fret grooves and cause them to fill with finish. If you spray the silicone first, then the overspray that fills in the grooves will blow right out of the groove with compressed air. If you measure right you can just blow out the fret slots with the spray gun after it runs dry. That saves a step.


Edit...to quote Al Swearengen, "I'm stupidest when I try to be funny"...just ignore this post.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

speaking if don , is he still walking the surface of the earth ??

Martin used a hard green wax for lube for many years. Anyone who has repaired older Martins has seen it on the fret tangs, and I wondered about it. That is, until I toured the plant in the early-1980's. When I watched the guy hammering in the frets, I saw him drag the fret tang across the green block, so I asked him the purpose. He told me it made the frets go in easier.
Since the constant struggle with older Martins with hammered frets is popped-up ends, I declined to use wax. The main issue with hammering frets (with or without wax) is the tendency for the fret to straighten or curve upwards on the ends...due to repeated hammer blows. The 'correct' way to deal with it (IMHO) is to overbend the frets before installing them. That practice has served me well in all the years since that day I first visited the Martin plant.
I am not sure how many fret jobs I have done, but I know it is several thousand.

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John

There you go. I just knew I wasn't the first person to think of it!

Great minds think alike!

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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.

hot dang that is a lot

Kentucky makes Gel?

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Yes Andy, and it's delicious on toast.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

eew

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

PAM

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Another day, another dollar.

Ah I had no idea that was what that stuff was. I thought maybe it was just some weird oxidation from hand funk or something.

Yes, Andy, and CA make glue.

Yo Andy, me dear old friend...
What say you, me, we sit down, two glasses, vodka, kabassa, tooth pics and have a nice little chat about a few things... ok?

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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my nightmares will be filled with fisheyes tonight thanks to that!