Posted: Apr 12, 2016 2:14 pm
Installing the frets
You can buy special hammers but I like this old Maydole for installing frets.
The Stewmac hammer is a better choice but I mostly press frets so I never invested in one.
It's much easier to hold the wire in place if the fingerboard is not bound. With a bound board extra care is needed to make sure that the fret starts to go into the slot straight. Start at one end and continue across the fret. The neck must have solid support beneath it. A bag filled with shot makes a great neck support but I don't have one.
Here's what the shot bag looks like:
I made a tool that helps tap in "difficult" frets and it's great for seating the ends too. The slot in the bottom fits the fret wire and keeps it from slipping off the fret.
My tool in action.
And a fret installed.
Hammering in frets is a pretty traditional way to install them but you can also press them in place.
Here's a photo of my fret press head that accepts various caul sizes along with some cauls.
And the fret press in action.
I wait until all the frets are installed to trim the overhang, that way, if any pop up while the other frets are being driven in it's easier to re-seat them. The flush ground nippers make short work of trimming the frets .
And they're all installed.
You can buy special hammers but I like this old Maydole for installing frets.
The Stewmac hammer is a better choice but I mostly press frets so I never invested in one.
It's much easier to hold the wire in place if the fingerboard is not bound. With a bound board extra care is needed to make sure that the fret starts to go into the slot straight. Start at one end and continue across the fret. The neck must have solid support beneath it. A bag filled with shot makes a great neck support but I don't have one.
Here's what the shot bag looks like:
I made a tool that helps tap in "difficult" frets and it's great for seating the ends too. The slot in the bottom fits the fret wire and keeps it from slipping off the fret.
My tool in action.
And a fret installed.
Hammering in frets is a pretty traditional way to install them but you can also press them in place.
Here's a photo of my fret press head that accepts various caul sizes along with some cauls.
And the fret press in action.
I wait until all the frets are installed to trim the overhang, that way, if any pop up while the other frets are being driven in it's easier to re-seat them. The flush ground nippers make short work of trimming the frets .
And they're all installed.
