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I have a friend that destroys frets quicker than anyone I have ever seen in my life. I am recommending SS frets, but I have zero experience with them. What is the best (most durable) tool to use for installing them?

I've been using them for over a year now. I use the same method and tools as any fretwire with the exception of cutting them. I use a cutoff wheel on a Dremel to cut them to size. They take a bit longer to file but they smooth up quite nicely. I, as well as my player clients and friends love the feel and can't get them to show wear.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I don't have a dremel but I have been eyeing one recently. I suppose this would provide the excuse to get one. Thanks.

In regards to my player friend, I have never seen a guitar take a beating like this over a period of three years. The thing was trashed, nearly beyond repair but I did what I could to make it playable. He sold it shortly after and bought a new one, but it is surely going to need steel frets within the year.

I have been using stainless steel frets for a few years now. I use all the standard fretting tools. The only thing that ever gave me trouble was keeping the ends down on a bound board when hammering frets in. Not a problem since I started pressing frets.

Chuck

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Chuck...what are you using to cut the frets. I'd love to find a simpler hand tool that works.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I purchased the larges set of end nippers I could find and they work great.
They're prolly a foot long....
I simply could not get er done with anything smaller.... stainless is bloody hard....

My tools and techniques have not changed with using stainless steel frets, I have no problem keeping the ends down.
I use standard fret nippers, and the same stew-mac tang nipper, I trim 1 mm of tang off at a time though.
Dressing and polishing takes longer than with regular frets, but they last forever. Musicians who I know play 2 or 3 hours 5 nights a week have had me refret their guitars with stainless steel frets, some several years ago, and they still show no wear.
The stuff's super dureable.
I've done partial refrets with stainless, and there's been no discernable difference to any of my client's ears going across the stainless and nickel silver border, I don't think they affect the tone noticeably, at least not on the guitars I've done.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I don't know if it's just me but Dremel cut off wheels are about the slowest cutting method ever. I always end up being frustrated and just using a hacksaw or whatever else I can find, even after getting diamond ones (for cutting off bolt heads and such). Maybe it's different with stainless steel.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

It takes me about 3-5 seconds to make a cut

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ, I cut SS frets with standard diagonals from the local Sears, the flush nippers are also from Sears, I just ground them flush. Just the plain companion brand.

Guitarwisperer, are you able to hammer SS frets in a bound board without the ends lifting?

Chuck

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Yup.
I use the same technique to hammer SS in as NS.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I had serious problem with cutting stainless frets, and I can see why Warmoth won't install them in a bound fretboard (and I won't either...)

When using an abrasive wheel, how do I keep the fret cool enough so that the heat from the cutting won't char the wood? this has been a major problem for me when using any short of powered abrasive on SS frets.

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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 guess I just have gorilla hands, I have no problem cutting even jumbo stainless steel frets with regular stew-mac end nippers.
If any aof y'all need a a bound fretboard done in steel, just send it to me!

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I don tknow where you could get them now, but a couple years back Allied had carbide tipped flush cutting nippers for sale .. they are without a doubt the best side cutters I have ever seen or used. As they were sold as trial runs, they needed a touchup on the mounting surface of one of the carbide inserts to get the tips to touch properly, but after about 2 minutes with a file, they are golden.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Seems to me that Jescar could provide a great service by having heavy duty and/or carbon tipped nippers available for sale. Having the right tool sure makes a difference.

Also...I've installed SS frets on bound fretboards (hammered) with no change in technique from standard wire. I use a small amount of FG in the slots which seems to help. While the fret nipper works, it definitely requires much greater hand force.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com