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My vintage fret saw and a little trick I stumbled upon using it.

Hi all, just showing off the old school saw that I use to cut fret slots with. It isn't the sharpest tool in the shed (alot like myself) but until I break down and buy a new one it is the best I have. Bought it in a big group of tools from the son of an old luthier who passed away some 10 years ago. Very comfortable to use, but sometimes I have trouble with the blade wanting to bind and stick during use (more than likely operator error). This may be common knowledge around here, but I discovered that if you draw the blade across some wax, it makes cutting fret slots a breeze. And as an added benefit, when seating the frets, they press in so much easier.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Eight Spades CBG on May 9, 2012 at 11:31am

Nice tip, I'll have to try it out. Do the frets stay in place pretty good, no lifting or anything?

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Permalink Reply by Turkeychicken on May 9, 2012 at 1:50pm

I haven't yet finished the build, but I believe they will stay put.

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Permalink Reply by Naz Nomad on May 9, 2012 at 12:12pm

I've seen Jeremy Kyle guests with better teeth than that saw. :-D

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Permalink Reply by Turkeychicken on May 9, 2012 at 1:51pm

Perhaps, but it has a really good personality. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Gus on May 10, 2012 at 10:31am

I love old tools like that...janky teeth and all. I'm going to keep this tip in mind when I'm ready to step up to a fretted CBG.

I'm very new to this scene and have only built two so far (not counting a ludicrous cookie tin banjo and a diddley-bow)...what's a good fret saw and how much should one cost? Or is this "just get the cheap one and work with it" territory?

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Permalink Reply by jabes on May 10, 2012 at 11:24pm

ah.. my book of tools lists this as a Gent's saw or dovetail saw ...very nice tool. i expect the steel is very good quality, it's probably binding 'cos it needs sharpening. in this day of throwaway 'hardpoint' saws the practice of sharpening has deminished, however it's not that difficult, try practicing on an old (not HP ) saw ...

hen i cut my fets , i first mark with a knife - i use wfret as no 2 of my guits are the same s/l'

then i use a piercing saw for a very fine cut , then last cut with a coping saw . i bit longwinded but i've never had a wrong fret slot.

well , i like your saw...

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Permalink Reply by Paul Doug on May 11, 2012 at 4:08am

You must press your frets in without glue? I would be afraid the glue wouldn't stick well if there was any wax in the slot. I don't own a saw with that fine of blade, wish I did.

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Permalink Reply by jabes on May 11, 2012 at 7:47am

iv'e never used glue, when i first looked into fretting (about a year ago ,2nd build ) i just did a few test cuts, now i use the same fret blade for the frets ,and put it by when i use the fretsaw for f-holes etc..

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Permalink Reply by Don Barnhill on May 11, 2012 at 10:14am

What about using Camellia Oil on that old tool? It's what Lie Nielsen recommends for use on their planer blades. it's not supposed to affect the gluing surfaces.

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=CO

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on May 12, 2012 at 4:21am

Like Jabes I know this as a Gentlemans saw. I use a modern version and like you apply wax to the blade to ease cutting. They are quite easily sharpened using a three square needle file with the blade held between two pieces of wood in a vice