Official Luthiers Forum!

This is a follow up to the recent thread on a compound radius fretboard jig (nice job by the way!). I've heard of folks doing a compound fret level on a straight radius board by following the run of the strings with the leveling device. Is this a feasible approach or something to stay away from? Pros & Cons?
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.

By compound radius do you mean something like a 12 to 14 " radius ?
The reason I ask is, the fret bead may not be tall enough to achieve say a 10 to a 16 " radius and have a good amount of fret left.
Con...I hope you are good at crowning frets.
Con ...your fret life is reduced.
Con...Your frets can feel short in the middle.
Con...it does not look like an intentional feature ,more like something you did as an after thought.

The only reason I can think of for doing your compound job in the frets is when you have done all you could and just can't get a buzz out when strings are bent up a full step or so and go over the crown .
Best to use good fretboard sanding technique prior to fret installation.
Well, that's my take on it .
Hope it helps.

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How long is that in luthyears?