Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all and thanks again for all of the help.
One of the weak points on Numero Uno was the fret ends. They suffer from a lack of uniformity. What is the best way to cut, shape, file the ends so they look good and all look the same? I have conquered the leveling process but would like to improve my asthetics on Numero Dos which I will be starting in a couple of weeks. Thanks again for the help!

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John Nowicki

I would suggest the book Fret Work from StweMac would be a good place to start.
best regards,
jack

I have had good results on fret ends and bevel with the stew mac fret leveling file.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_su ... Files.html

This is like skin the cat.... many methods. That single cut file works good for taking them down. Shaping the ends requires consistent strokes. I tried (and still try) many different files etc.. some of them just feel right with cut and control.

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Tom Krebs

I find you're a long way to uniformity once you get the ends beveled equally & to the same angle & a simple block with a slot cut for your flat file makes that easy.
I usually do 12" radius, so I scraped that into the block. Just run it down the fretboard. (I like to bevel 95% before finishing, then final 5% after buffing so the file just kisses the fingerboard edge to a fine bevel).
Beyond that, as Tom says, just consistant strokes (...same stroke/wrist movement on all frets in line, rather than complting a fret before moving to the next one, if that makes sense.)

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Dave
Milton, ON

hey guys didnt want to start up a new thread on this one before
but since your on the subject

Whats your favourate fret end file ?

Ive got the stu-mac fret end dressing file (the small one)
but i find it a bit too flimbsy and its hard to know if your getting the
the right angle you want because of the length

i was looking at the bigger files that stu mac have
the biggest one says its dans favourite
anyone use this one? tomas

Also you can look at my simple tutorial on semi-hemispherical fret ends on my web site. Go to
http://dunwellguitar.com/
and click on the Luthier Pages button and then click on
Fretwork - Making Semi-Hemispherical Fret Ends

This just discussed the making of the fret end. I press them in using a bound fretboard. More can be seen on that in the Let's Build A Guitar blather.

FWIW,
Alan D.

The result looks the same. Sylvan charges a nominal fee for some of the information on his web site, including how he does his fret ends. Well worth it, I thought. More stuff to put in the bag of tricks.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I bought the StewMac bevel file with the polyethylene block. It works well but the filings tend to get under the poly and scratch the tops of the frets no matter how careful you are. I put brown binding tape over the frets just exposing the ends when I use it. That solved the problem and I use it all the time.
Terry

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

Todd,

I think it's a matter of terminology. They look the same to me. In both cases the fret ends are about the same shape as a quarter of a sphere.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I just leave mine jagged and sharp. You know what they say? Ni pain no gain.

Hi.

I bought a long 2nd cut flat file and cut the ends off with an angle grinder, so it was just a straight section. Rounded off the rough edges, and epoxied it to a piece of dowel. Couple of rubber bands hold it to dry. Cheap and effective. I've been meaning to make a fine one to finish off with. Wasn't my idea. I saw it on some forum.

Nice jig/file holder of yours Dave.

Cheers Hip.