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How many of you using three corner file for crowning frets instead of special crowning file? I´ve tried use double sided crowning file few times but went back to using 3 corner file because crowning files take some material off from top of the frets and leaves nasty file marks. Am I missing something? Is it better with diamond files?

Thanks
Juss

I like my diamond file from Stew Mac. Like anything, you need to watch what you are doing. I put on a magnifying visor when doing fretwork. I try to take the flat top back to just a sliver, then polish from there. The diamond file helps me get to the sliver on top.

I use 3 corner. It is cheap and it works. Diamond fret file is supposed to chatter less, but it often leaves a school bus profile, unless you work it in some weird way that just makes it as much work as a triangular file. Use a fine cut 3 corner file and you can just simply polish the frets with a Dremel buffing wheel + green compounds.

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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
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I use a large flat smooth cut file. I never was happy with the 3 corner. I find that I can judge the angle better with a flat file.
The harder frets to profile, when using an ordinary file, are the small lower frets (Mandolin?), the larger Guitar frets seem much easier in comparison.

I've learned how to use a diamond grit crowning file and I really prefer it. I find it much quicker and easier to polish out.

Diamond crowning files work great, are as fast or faster than 3 corner files depending on who's holding the handle...., and leave minimal scratches. They also work in both directions and they also last a very long time as well.

They may not make economic sense for folks who dabble but for folks who work in the trade they are a God send!

For very low frets I still may use a 3 corner but for everything else it's diamond files.

I've used a 3 corner file for 20 years but last year I got the diamond file and I have to agree with Hesh on it's use. It's faster and cuts both ways. You still have to sort of roll your wrists with it so that you don't get that top of the bus shape unless of course that's what you are going for.

3 corner files are great though and don't waste your money on a fret file unless it's a diamond one. I have both the Stewmac 3 in 1 fret file and the diamond offset file. The diamond one is 3 times more expensive but honestly the 3 in 1 sucks so bad I should just chuck it in the trash. The diamond file is brilliant though and will last forever.

Forgot to mention and I agree with JF that the non diamond crowning files are not worth the money. The ones that I "had..." sucked, scratched the heck out of the frets and chattered more than a pissed off Bluebird when you get close to her nest.... I gave mine to someone I don't like....

I'll second too that rocking the diamond files produces nicer crowns and this goes for any of the three varieties of diamond crowning files that our friends Stew-Mac carry.

I used a 3 corner file for years and once I got a diamond fret crowning file I never looked back.

Thanks, Hesh. I still have them.

Seriously, if you were to buy only 1 offset diamond file, which grit would you get? 150...300?

Any time, any time!

PS: YOU are VERY much liked James!!!!!! Even by me!!!!