Official Luthiers Forum!

I've got someone who works for me that does all our setups and fret leveling etc. He really wants to learn to build guitars, but that is another story. I took over the shop recently and some of the ways he does things disturbs me mainly because it is time consuming and not always the most accurate. Good, but not always perfect. Well, a recent shipment of instruments is going to require dressing all the guitars. I mean you could cut your hands up pretty good if you tried to play these acoustics very long. High frets and all kinds of fun stuff. So how can I make his life easier? I already bought him some nice crowning files and nut files and that made his month, but are there some good tools I can get him that would make dressing the frets and basic setups easier. Ask yourself this, if I needed to setup and dress the frets on 50 guitars, what would I want?  I should probably ask him, but I want to surprise him with something special.

I would want my new polishing system.

I'm still honing some tiny details with it, but I've cut my fret polishing time
from about half an hour to somewhere around one minute. I'll try to post
some photos, but I'll be out east most of this week and am not sure If I'll
have time before then.

Out of curiosity, what and where is this shop? Did you buy a music store?

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Jared, I'd get the angled fret end file and holder from StewMac or you can make one, for starters.

It kind of depends on what's protruding the ends or the tops of the frets. That angled fret end file will do the upper part really well, but you need another setup for the very ends.

Some of the guys recommended filing fret and finish, then touching up with french polish? If It's lacquer and a new instrument, I'm thinking you'd have to tape off and respray, then buff out.

StewMac has another little fret file I've been eyeing, it's small, but I don't have the number or description.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

David, Jared has some music stores and he's set one up recently he said in a smaller town. He's in Oklahoma.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

David, when you think you've got it pretty well worked out, I'd be very interested. Like Bruce said, I have a small music store. We deal mainly in beginner-intermediate level guitars, repairs, PA work, and lessons. We've just been at it a couple months, but things are going okay. I'm still writing software for Boeing so I'm rarely there when the interesting stuff goes on. Kind of sad really, I thought I’d get to practice more, but I rarely get to pick up my guitars these days. Life. I did get to work on my guitar last night though, so I’m happy. I also discovered that the cutting edge of a chisel is not the only edge that can cut.

Anyway, back on topic. I’m not sure I would want anyone filing into the finish. I agree though that it is probably the only way to get a good smooth transition.

 

 Get the StewMac catalogue and buy him one of everything in it!

 

O.K. here's my essentials list:

All Stewmac:

1) 2 Diamond fret dressing files curved at the ends(150 and 300)

2) 1 medium can't saw file (three ended with corners smoothed)

3) Reverse fret slotting saw with depth guide

4) fret end filing file for taking the sharp edges off

5) fret tang remover

6) Ibanez set of nut files ( not stewmac but readily available) They come 3 to a set

7) Nut slotting/seating files (angle and flat) for seating the nuts - Martin style, Fender and Gibson thicknesses 

8) the SM 2" x 3" measuring plate that has measurements on all sides so you can measure string height etc.

9) good luthier calipers notched for fret wire measurement

10) a case of fret board treatment oil...the stuff is great!

11) Micro Mesh up to 12000...or dedicate a buffer...those frets will blind ya!

With all the above your guy should want for very little...I wish I had a boss like you...

 

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

p.s.

forgot the fret nippers and fret pullers...now you're set...

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"