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I need to get a tool or develop a process for fret tang removal.
Never to date, have I done a bound fretboard.
The John Watkins neck on the OLF 2 Guitar Project requires this done.

Looking at LMII.com I see Frank Ford developed this tool.







I suppose you supply your own file and it's $110.

Then over at StewMac.com we find the fret nipper....



It is about $48. There is a little blurb about Collings which is:

Our friend Bill Collings (of Collings Guitars) had an idea that inspired this simple and precise tool.

The Fret Tang Nipper is useful for fretting unbound fingerboards, too:
Clipping the excess fret end after it's installed in an unbound fingerboard leaves a mangled, distorted edge and can unseat the fret. You want to start dressing the fret end, but instead you are correcting the twisted "T" the cutter left behind. If the end of the fret tang is removed before the fret's installed only the fret crown overhangs, and it can be clipped easily without the twisting that happens when the tang is intact. Using the Fret Tang Nipper removes the cleanly removes tang in a jiffy, leaving only the crown to then cut and dress.

Sounds like this tool would assist a builder in more than just bound fretboards. Feedback on any method or jig you use is appreciated. I need to do something in the next few days getting this happnin'.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I understand that the Radio Shack item for $10 is basically the same as the Stewmac one. Currently out of stock, but you can back order at: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2289712

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I bought a klein nibbler on ebay for $25. I ground a slot for the fret in the face. The stew mac nipper are actually klein nibblers. Take the shrink wrap off a stew mac and you'll see. I owned a stew mac nipper and it went missing. I think i might have knocked it into the trash can next to my bench and didn't notice it until after i needed it the next time. As for the radio shack nibbler i do own one of these that I use for electronic projects. I think it would make do even though the quality isn't the same as the klein. Here is a stockphoto of a klein. I don't have a camera or i would take a photo of the one i modified.

Bruce, I have the Stew Mac fret tang nipper and I love it. Some still require a bit of filing after cutting the fret tang, but hardly any of mine seem to need it.

Yes, the radio shack nipper is less money, but you still have to cut your own slot in it for the fret to sit in. That needs to be cut in the correct spot or you will remove too little or too much of the fret tang (too much would mean cutting the fret too).

Seeing as I'm a self proclaimed cheep skate, and I gladly paid for the Stew Mac tang nipper, I say don't waist your time with the radio shack version. Spend the money, get the tool. Also, seeing as you need it ASAP, that might also persuade you.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Same here - StewMac nipper and file. I do only bound boards now I like it that much.

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

Just for reference, on unbound boards, and if you do nip these, how do you fill the fret end? Should I get some lacquer burn in stick for this? Lately, I've packed with ebony dust and hit it with CA, but it always leaves the witness lines or drying pools and seems to show. Ideas?

Klein, hmmm, I have an electric supply who carry full line of Klein just down the street from my house/shop? And we have a Radio Shack in town too. Thanks Guys. Anyone else have a method? I have repaired a guitar once and did grind off a tang with a Dremel, but it was tense going and I "KNEW" there was a better way.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

If you have to file after using the Stewmac nipper why bother with it? I've used the flush cut fret cutter and had to do a little bit of filing, and it works just fine.

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

You almost never have to do any filing. 99% of the time it cuts cleanly, except for that time you start to daydream and hold the fret a little bit crooked, then a quick swipe with a file gets you back in buisiness.

The Stew Mac tool does have the advantage over the Klein of already having the slot precisely ground, but if i was to do it again, i might go the cheapskate route and modify the Klein. On second thought, naaaa.

For unbound boards, i just use medium CA to fill the ends. The look does not bother me at all.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Totally agree with Jordan. I've had virtually no frets to file after using the Stew Mac nipper over the past 4 boards I've fretted. You do have to watch what you're doing though. You can pivot the fret slightly in the slot and you can either cut just a bit to short, or get it spot on. We are really talking about a very small tang remaining, like 0.010+/- and only if you don't hold the fret correctly. It's not hard to hold it correctly either.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I also made my own flush cut end nippers and fret pullers. I din't really do it to save money it was more of the challenge of doing it. I have a taig metal lathe and sherline mill that weren't getting as much use as they should. I considered this a way to give myself more experience on these machine.

im still building my first guitar, but it has a bound board. i just used the lmi fret cutters and file whats left by hand. its not difficult. it does take some time. i got great results on my very first try though. saved me a few bucks.

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sweat the small stuff.

Stewmac nipper for me and I rarely have to file.

Less than 5% need a file taken to them.

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

Stew Mac nipper here, couldn't be happier.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

I don't doubt, from what everyone says, that the Stewmac nippers (or Klein) are excellent. But if (like me) you make less than one instrument a year or you need to do it now, this minute, use a jewellers saw to cut the necessary amount of tang off each end. A swipe with a fine file cleans up the underside of the overhanging bits and it doesn't take long.
If you want to spend a little more time you can make each fret to measure, lengthwise and do them like this.

Bruce, On my latest unbound ebony fretboard, I nipped the ends, and then I took some left over ebony veneer strips and plugged the gaps. I just cut the end of the strip to a point so that it would wedge in tight. Then I placed a drop of CA glue on it and trimmed it flush with a flush cutter. It only took a couple of seconds per fret to do this. The result was an invisible fill that has no possibility of shrinkage.

Struck out locally on the Klein and RS. I have to say the Klein looks more substantial and has replacement cutters available.

Thanks guys, will keep all this in mind as I proceed. Barry, that is a cool method, but I don't have a jewelers saw. I remember having to prepare a few frets on a repair and it convinced me a tool for the job is needed. Seems like I used a grinder, dremel, and file an it was tedious.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I got a notice from Radio Shack that their nipper is in stock - for online order only. If someone knows how to modify it for fret work I'd be interested. The rice is around $10.00 and shipping is free.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I modified the Klein and used it this past weekend on my bound fingerboard. It would nip really close but never completely flush. It may have been close enough, but running a file over the fret end took minimal time, so I filed each fret end.





Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Ken my original stew mac nipper left a line like that too. It also required a light filing. My modified klein does the same. I can live with it. Has anyone ever used these nippers on stainless wire? Just wondering.

I went the cheap route and made my own from a Harbor Freight sheet metal nibbler. Total cost about $6. Just took off the little die part of it and filed a groove. Works just fine.

Darrin

Great tip, thanks. Now I have a reason to go to HF.

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA