Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TN Twang on February 11, 2015 at 4:41am

Wow!

Coupla' thoughts:

1. Correcting the frames-per-second count to modern video standards makes him look a little more frenetic than he really is, but still HE'S FAST!

2. Somebody (a "serious" luthier) said that he could make a guitar in about a week, but it took at least 2 years to make all the necessary jigs and clamps.

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Permalink Reply by Sawbones on February 10, 2015 at 4:35am

My first(and only) fret job I used a saw thats kinda shaped like a pistol.Slots were too big and I super glued them like Eddie VanHalen used to do.

I got this dovetail saw? from Ace hardware that is rectangular and is roughly the size of a fretting saw.From test fitting a couple frets they will tap in tight w/ no glue needed.It was under $15,I wasnt going to buy all the fretting stuff just to do a few cbg's.I'll never sell,its just a personal hobby for a burned out Metalhead.

But all this has been said.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on February 10, 2015 at 4:48am

I'm reminded of an article I think I read on the StewMac site suggesting that if your ears aren't ringing when you're done fretting a neck, then something is wrong.  In a properly sized fret slot, it takes one or two really good whacks to get the fret in and seated properly.  I do mainly maple fretboards, but have also worked with oak, purpleheart and panga panga.  Maybe one or two poplar.  All hold the frets fine without any glue so long as I haven't boogered a slot or let the wire fall over sideways when seating it.

I do tend to put a coat or two of tung oil on before stringing up so maybe there's something a little sticky under the frets before I'm done, but nothing that is purposely an adhesive.

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Permalink Reply by Sawbones on February 12, 2015 at 8:02am

I finish my "partscasters" in tung oil.A few weeks and they're dry,hard and solid.

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Permalink Reply by Comrade Paul on February 16, 2015 at 1:15pm

was wondering about whether tung oil before seating the frets was the way to go. My last build had a loose fret that drove me crazy, I replaced it and glued it and it was still loose.  I used vintage frets on that build so maybe the tang was to small.  I should have tried bending the tang also.  Sometimes at the end of a build i'm just done with the guitar and have to give it away and start another one.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on February 11, 2015 at 1:22pm

Yup, I rarely use glue when using regular fret wire but when using something off the wall like bobby pins, wiper blade wire, nails or toothpicks a drop or two of super glue works pretty well. Epoxy is too permanent if you need to move/replace whatever you used for frets.  Real fret material is pretty cheap so that's what I use now that I've got a not so cheap saw with the proper kerf.

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Permalink Reply by smilingdog1 on February 12, 2015 at 12:47am

My process has evolved from super glue into the slot.

Then I tried super glue along the fret wire.

The best so far has been to seal the wood surface of the fret board first, then super glue along the fret tang.

This way the excess glue doesn't stick or discolor my fret board and the frets stay put.

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Permalink Reply by Mark on February 12, 2015 at 3:38am

No need to seal the fret board to prevent glue from sticking. Before installing frets wax the fret board and the super glue squeeze out will flake right off. When fret job is done wash down fret board with naphtha or mineral sports to remove the wax. Then oil fret board with whatever oil you like....I like lemon oil. And by the way you only need a little glue right on the tang of the fret not in the fret slot.

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Permalink Reply by Sawbones on February 12, 2015 at 8:05am

I swear by lemon oil!

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Permalink Reply by TN Twang on February 12, 2015 at 8:21am

Sounds great!

"Wax" as in Johnson's Paste Wax or "wax" as in paraffin?

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Permalink Reply by Mark on February 12, 2015 at 1:47pm

Yes as in johnsons paste wax......just try to aviod filling the fret slots with the wax .....very light coating.

wax on...glue pop off ....twang-san

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Permalink Reply by TN Twang on February 13, 2015 at 5:41am

arigato

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