Pat Foster wrote:
I like these Fastcap nippers. Best I ever used. Their fret puller looks interesting too.
https://www.fastcap.com/product/flush-cut-trimmers
Select the stainless fret nippers.
Attachment:
fastcap.jpg
https://www.fastcap.com/product/flush-cut-trimmers
Select the stainless fret nippers.
There are several things that Dave and I don't like about these "fret pullers" and the first thing is the name. We should never "pull" frets that's how you chip the heck out of the board. Instead frets should be gently lifted with the tool face firmly in contact with the board for a goodly span, perhaps 1" where the closing jaws of the tool and the inside bevels lift the fret. Heat first as well. So that's one thing, the name.
The second thing we don't like about these is the bevel angle of the cut is too shallow to lift frets by the act of closing the jaws. It will lift a bit, much like the current Stew Mac ones but not like the original StewMac ones that we also have and Dave won't let me have.
The third thing we don't like about these is the narrow face of the nippers. That broad face we see on the Stewmac nippers is intended to keep chips in place for a goodly span and this needs to happen.
Anyway this is what we came up with too lots of alternatives but no one seems to remember the true intent and how the originals from the 60's and early 70's were intended to work with the closing of the jaws and the bevel causing the fret lift while the ground face is firmly registered on the fret board to avoid chips.
Dan E. and his lovely wife are coming to visit us in late November I'll be sure to ask him what his take on why we can't find nippers like the originals is and report back here.
We have both the originals from Stew Mac and the offering 15 years ago which is different and when used side by side the difference is crystal clear.
Chris what is stopping us from making our own these days is a suitable starting point. The current iteration of Channelock nippers lack the original bevel angle that I keep harping on and what they have is too shallow for our use.
Our nippers cut stainless fine now only if my old hurting hands could do the same.