DIY Fret Leveling Tools

[DalyTek]

Anyone have any advice on how to make your own fret leveling tools?
Can't really justify the cost of the Stew Mac stuff since I only have 1 guitar.

I just want to level and crown & polish.

[sully]

Get a bastard file, a mill file, and a 3 corner file.
Then get lots of sandpaper.
Actually, if you watch the fretting videos I posted, I give you a few tips on tools you can DIY.

Sully

[DalyTek]

Sully, thanks. Actually, your fretwork part 1 video is what inspired me to have the confidence to do this myself.
Are there specific grits I need?

[sully]

Yep! 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 0000 grade steel wool, and chrome polish if you feel like gettin' crazy and buffing them out.

Sully

[Trussrod]

A Youtube user named "smbstressfest" has a 20 part series on refretting a Fender Strat. It's at least two hours long. He goes over a lot of different aspects related to doing fret work. If anything the videos offer too many details and explanations. Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tka_BQ_tl1U

Stew Mac has some videos and descriptions of the various tools you will need. I'd check there as well...

[warlok]

These are what I still use. They work great. Only thing I bought was the crowning file and the sanding pads but you don't technically need either of them. Just the 3 corner file and sandpaper on a finger.. http://www.jcfonline.com/threads/110...rk.?highlight=

[DalyTek]

I remember that thread, warlok. What are the supplies you got there? I really want to get the stuff together and give this a shot.

Sully, I have a set of needle files and a 3-sided file, but not sure if they are the right courseness (is that the right term?) What do I look for in a bastard file and mill file (don't have either of those and really don't know what they are!)

Thanks for all the help guys!

[sully]

Bastard file is more coarse, mill file is finer. You can get either of them at any home improvement store.

Sully

[warlok]

I had an old aluminum level in the garage and some aluminum bars (don't know what they were from) that I lapped flat on a surface plate at work. I took one of the bars and notched it with a really coarse bastard file thicker than the frets for the gauge to check straightness of the board. Bought the micro-mesh pads on ebay for like $10 shipped. Rolls of 320 and 400 grit I got at work but they're cheap to buy. Crowning file off ebay for $50 (lucked out on that..). I've done the Soloist Pro and the Soloist Custom, both came out great. Gonna do my Model 6 soon.

[sully]

Nice!

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Mainly you need a notched straightedge of some sorts and then a very flat long beam and a very flat short beam and some 320 stickit and a crowning file, and I really think that the dolphin-shaped diamond file is worth it (though it is $$) if you will use it a lot or if you will do stainless steel frets because it is SO EASY to get a great crown without worry of marring the board.

After that to clean them up I just use 800/1500/2000 and some polish. One strip of masking tape on either side of the fret I'm doing while I sand, and move down the board, taking the same 2 strips of tape with me. You can mask the whole thing and it's a good idea but typically I don't.

[sully]

Good DIY notched straightedge can be made from a drafting square. That's what I did.

Sully

[Scooter]

Good DIY notched straightedge can be made from a drafting square. That's what I did.

Sully

Thats exactly what I did!

[LouSiffer]

All these ideas are great and i have used some of them. I will say, the diamond file from Stew Mac is well worth the money. It is almost idiot proof. . . . It is definately Lou proof.

[DalyTek]

Lou, you don't know me well enough....nothing is idiot proof!