dude, use wet-sand paper, that way you can wash it out and unclog it, just remeber to dry it out before sanding again. and ( i dunno if you ever tryed this ) but put tape on the sides of the frets, use 00 fine steel wool to give the fret a crown , then use 0000 fine to polish the frets.
@CemetaryGatesML I have tried every tool, technique, and style of abrasive sheet I could find over the years including the wet dry silicon carbide papers. The way I do these jobs now is a distillation from years of trial and error. I go with the 3M gold papers now because their dry performance is way beyond the non-stearated silicon carbide sheets.
Have you tried the 3M gold backed fre-cut sheets?
@JgHaverty The higher grit papers tend to clog or "corn" faster. Plus, I find that the well worn 320 works the frets down at about the same rate (perhaps a little faster) and leaves nearly as smooth a finish as a relatively fresh 600 grit abrasive sheet would.
@7ibanez7 I don't answer questions of price in the comments section. If you want an estimate, send me a PM describing the guitar and what you want and I'll be happy to get you a quote.
The 3M gold aluminum oxide papers come on adhesive backed rolls which is convenient for my sanding beams and are also coated with a zinc stearate compound which functions as a lubricant and greatly reduces the likelihood of the abrasive becoming clogged or "corned" with metal particles.
The silicon carbide "wet/dry" papers have no such coating and clog VERY quickly, plus I haven't seen them in an adhesive backed roll.
Try both and I think you'll see why I stay away from the SC wet/dry papers
@jacka94 ur message is pritty old, but about 120$ is what it costed me. but i only recomend doing a complete fret job if the guitar itself is worth it, if its a cheaper guitar, bring the frets to life. but a fret shapping tool of ebay for 40$ and some steel wool ( 0000 fine ) to bring the fretd back to life.
hey guys, please help i have a big problem. i just realized the older fender of mine has a problem . the older gutiar (10 years old) doesn't sustain fretted notes. when you play for example the open d string and a fretted 12th g string together and slide back to 10th fret, the g string already stopped sustaining, while the d string sustains very long. even if i don't slide anywhere, the g string only sustains for 2 seconds on this guitar, on the newer one at least twice as long without amp.
well i just solved it, i had a shim under my neck at the head side, so the neck had a bad angle, which allowed me to set the bridge saddles more easily (now i can't go any higher without the screws falling off the saddles) but i never knew it had this DRASTIC NEGATIVE effect on my sustain. horrible.. now it is much much better after replacing the shim.
Your videos are very informative, I've watched all of them.
On the low E string on like the 19th fret and the high E string on like the 20th fret, they make a horrible buzz, and only those two frets, no where else. Do you think a fret dress will fix these two buzzing frets? Thanks
Likely you have some fret ends that are up. You could level them, but they may be loose as well. If you take the guitar to a repair tech you might tell them that you suspect they're loose in addition to being high. If that's the case, they should be clamped level with the rest of the frets, then glued in place... and only then should they be milled level. If you just level the frets without gluing down the loose ones you could have the same problem after the work is done...
Well if you have a lot of material you'd like to take off I might recommend using a good flat file and then switching to sheet abrasive when you get close to the height you're after. Keep in mind, when removing lots of material from the frets they should be recrowned back to center and flapping the sandpaper across the frets will probably not be effective if they get very flat from leveling. You'll want to use a file to round them back to the true half round shape for the best intonation.
I have an indonesian squire Tele that has railroad tracks for frets: too high to play.
Since it would cost me as much to have it fixed as it would to buy the tools to do it myself, and I'm a carpenter and used to restore antique furniture,AND the guitar only cost $299.00 about ten years ago and it just sits 'cause it can't be played, I would like to level the frets myself.
Should I just go for it with maybe fresh sandpaper since they're so high?
T-Shirt ftw
grubitania 3 months ago
Emery cloth should be used on metal.
DyslExiCKiDtheBAND 6 months ago in playlist guitar re fret
Nice shirt
nblax41 6 months ago
dude, use wet-sand paper, that way you can wash it out and unclog it, just remeber to dry it out before sanding again. and ( i dunno if you ever tryed this ) but put tape on the sides of the frets, use 00 fine steel wool to give the fret a crown , then use 0000 fine to polish the frets.
CemetaryGatesML 1 year ago
@CemetaryGatesML I have tried every tool, technique, and style of abrasive sheet I could find over the years including the wet dry silicon carbide papers. The way I do these jobs now is a distillation from years of trial and error. I go with the 3M gold papers now because their dry performance is way beyond the non-stearated silicon carbide sheets.
Have you tried the 3M gold backed fre-cut sheets?
smbstressfest 1 year ago
@smbstressfest why do you use worn out sandpaper instead of higher (4-600) grit sand paper?
JgHaverty 8 months ago
@JgHaverty The higher grit papers tend to clog or "corn" faster. Plus, I find that the well worn 320 works the frets down at about the same rate (perhaps a little faster) and leaves nearly as smooth a finish as a relatively fresh 600 grit abrasive sheet would.
smbstressfest 8 months ago
@JgHaverty using a worn sandpaper is something completely different than using a fresh piece with finer grit
seasonedtoker 4 months ago
Im not a expert of this but ive noticed your very professional and "picky" which is obviously good for the customer ;) But how much does this cost?
7ibanez7 1 year ago
@7ibanez7 I don't answer questions of price in the comments section. If you want an estimate, send me a PM describing the guitar and what you want and I'll be happy to get you a quote.
smbstressfest 1 year ago
Hi Firstly , great series of videos. Question: Why do you use old sand paper instead of some fine wet and dry paper?
5pack1234 1 year ago
The 3M gold aluminum oxide papers come on adhesive backed rolls which is convenient for my sanding beams and are also coated with a zinc stearate compound which functions as a lubricant and greatly reduces the likelihood of the abrasive becoming clogged or "corned" with metal particles.
The silicon carbide "wet/dry" papers have no such coating and clog VERY quickly, plus I haven't seen them in an adhesive backed roll.
Try both and I think you'll see why I stay away from the SC wet/dry papers
smbstressfest 1 year ago
can someone tell me how much a refret costs?
jacka94 2 years ago
I can only tell what mine cost... I'll send you a PM.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
@jacka94 ur message is pritty old, but about 120$ is what it costed me. but i only recomend doing a complete fret job if the guitar itself is worth it, if its a cheaper guitar, bring the frets to life. but a fret shapping tool of ebay for 40$ and some steel wool ( 0000 fine ) to bring the fretd back to life.
CemetaryGatesML 1 year ago
Do you use ordinary sandpaper or Emery Cloth?
ischlopischlo 2 years ago
Great videos, very delicate meticulous job. This series is better than Erlewine's. Just to know, how much is a refret at the Den's?
Peace
sirgerry 2 years ago
I have replied in a private message.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
hey guys, please help i have a big problem. i just realized the older fender of mine has a problem . the older gutiar (10 years old) doesn't sustain fretted notes. when you play for example the open d string and a fretted 12th g string together and slide back to 10th fret, the g string already stopped sustaining, while the d string sustains very long. even if i don't slide anywhere, the g string only sustains for 2 seconds on this guitar, on the newer one at least twice as long without amp.
GeekG 2 years ago
well i just solved it, i had a shim under my neck at the head side, so the neck had a bad angle, which allowed me to set the bridge saddles more easily (now i can't go any higher without the screws falling off the saddles) but i never knew it had this DRASTIC NEGATIVE effect on my sustain. horrible.. now it is much much better after replacing the shim.
GeekG 2 years ago
amazing work
and nice shirt :)
dreamabyss 2 years ago 2
Thank you. I love that shirt.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Your videos are very informative, I've watched all of them.
On the low E string on like the 19th fret and the high E string on like the 20th fret, they make a horrible buzz, and only those two frets, no where else. Do you think a fret dress will fix these two buzzing frets? Thanks
DaveScard 2 years ago
Likely you have some fret ends that are up. You could level them, but they may be loose as well. If you take the guitar to a repair tech you might tell them that you suspect they're loose in addition to being high. If that's the case, they should be clamped level with the rest of the frets, then glued in place... and only then should they be milled level. If you just level the frets without gluing down the loose ones you could have the same problem after the work is done...
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Alright, thanks a lot Jason. Will contact a tech ASAP.
DaveScard 2 years ago
Well if you have a lot of material you'd like to take off I might recommend using a good flat file and then switching to sheet abrasive when you get close to the height you're after. Keep in mind, when removing lots of material from the frets they should be recrowned back to center and flapping the sandpaper across the frets will probably not be effective if they get very flat from leveling. You'll want to use a file to round them back to the true half round shape for the best intonation.
smbstressfest 3 years ago
I guess I'll give it a shot.
I can see how changing the point at which the string hits the fret, on every fret down the neck, can completely throw the intonation off.
Since this guitar doesn't get used except for slide, I've got nothing to lose except the money I spend at StewartMcDonald.
ElvisClambake 3 years ago
That was really informative.
Thanks alot.
I have an indonesian squire Tele that has railroad tracks for frets: too high to play.
Since it would cost me as much to have it fixed as it would to buy the tools to do it myself, and I'm a carpenter and used to restore antique furniture,AND the guitar only cost $299.00 about ten years ago and it just sits 'cause it can't be played, I would like to level the frets myself.
Should I just go for it with maybe fresh sandpaper since they're so high?
ElvisClambake 3 years ago