Fret level - a new experience

RVA said:
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Sooo, looking at your pic and the time of your post, it seems you're doing this late at night in your jammies!

That's dedication, right there!
 
DonP said:
Dan Erlewine would tell you to keep all those little wood chips and glue them back in, but frankly I reckon life is too short for that.
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Dan's probably right, but when I refretted my '74 SG, initially the fretboard looked like RVA's. But, honestly, after sanding it, like he's doing, and after installing the new frets, the chipped areas pretty much disappeared under the new frets.

I'll bet once he's done, and maybe oils the fretboard, those chipped areas will be barely visible.

So, yeah, life (and my patience!) is too short for that!
 
RVA,

Don't forget that you may have to go back and deepen some of the fret slots, like @DonP said earlier. You may have to do this because of the material you've removed from the sanding process. Even if you hadn't sanded, there is always the possibility that the new fret tangs could be longer than the old frets. So, it's always good to double-check.
 
smitty_p said:
RVA,

Don't forget that you may have to go back and deepen some of the fret slots, like @DonP said earlier. You may have to do this because of the material you've removed from the sanding process. Even if you hadn't sanded, there is always the possibility that the new fret tangs could be longer than the old frets. So, it's always good to double-check.
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Thank you. Yes, I am awaiting the arrival of a nice Stew Mack slot saw. .023" width and depth stop. It should get here today.

Oh, and I did save a chip but I lost it!!! So instead, I bought a piece of rosewood to create filler dust, which should get here in a few days.
 
Thanks for bringing us along on your journey - at a safe distance.
Man you are deep in the Sh*t now!
I dont think I'll ever go this far, even if for no other reason the cost of the specialty tools involved.
But I sure am interested.
 
jtcnj said:
Thanks for bringing us along on your journey - at a safe distance.
Man you are deep in the Sh*t now!
I dont think I'll ever go this far, even if for no other reason the cost of the specialty tools involved.
But I sure am interested.
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I never begrudge money spent on tools. They are part of my insurance policy for the future.
 
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jtcnj said:
Thanks for bringing us along on your journey - at a safe distance.
Man you are deep in the Sh*t now!
I dont think I'll ever go this far, even if for no other reason the cost of the specialty tools involved.
But I sure am interested.
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If you would have asked me if I wanted to go to luthier camp, but it would cost the price of the tools, I would have gladly handed it over. Now, thanks to DonP and others who have assisted me here, I have the experience and the tools. I cannot tell you how much fun I was having yesterday. I did not want it to end!!
 
Ok i can see it. so did you sand off some of the piece rosewood you bought and fill those chips ? or will the frets just cover them
 
JohnnyGoo said:
Ok i can see it. so did you sand off some of the piece rosewood you bought and fill those chips ? or will the frets just cover them
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i will sand some dust off the block of rosewood and fill once it is delivered. The hardware store did not have any!! I wonder if Home Depot would?
 
How do you intend to use the dust - I mean, mixed with glue obviously, but will you dab it along the fret edges once they are fitted? I know Stewmac have teflon dams you can use for this to keep it out of the slots, but I've never tried that. Looking at the slots, I don't think you are going to have a lot of filling to do - that stuff is almost all going to get hidden.
 
DonP said:
How do you intend to use the dust - I mean, mixed with glue obviously, but will you dab it along the fret edges once they are fitted? I know Stewmac have teflon dams you can use for this to keep it out of the slots, but I've never tried that. Looking at the slots, I don't think you are going to have a lot of filling to do - that stuff is almost all going to get hidden.
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Yes, it will not be much. I saw the video regarding those teflon dams and Dan E said that he has used many things over the years, so I was thinking a credit card maybe? I will also do it before I re-saw the slots so I can clean it if that does not work.

As for the dust, internet advice is fill with dust and add a drop of superglue over it. I can do some light sanding afterward if it is not flush when dry. I a only planning to do 2 larger spots. The rest will be "character marks" if they show at all.
 
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This has great potential for pain. If you use the dam method, it wants to be a really close fit in the slots, and you might find the plastic of a credit card is a little more easily glued than a piece of teflon. Dust and superglue - yup, I'm sure that will work.
 
DonP said:
This has great potential for pain. If you use the dam method, it wants to be a really close fit in the slots, and you might find the plastic of a credit card is a little more easily glued than a piece of teflon. Dust and superglue - yup, I'm sure that will work.
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Thank you for thinking for me once again. I simply missed the possibility of gluing the card in the slot!! Shall I free-hand it and then saw out any excess? Otherwise, I will have to acquire some teflon.
 
Try free-hand, it may be OK. But I really suggest you choose your battles carefully. I think that most of those frets will prove to need no work - and if they do you can still do the dust and superglue thing after they are fitted.
 
DonP said:
Try free-hand, it may be OK. But I really suggest you choose your battles carefully. I think that most of those frets will prove to need no work - and if they do you can still do the dust and superglue thing after they are fitted.
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Sage advice, which I will happily take. Gluing dust exceeds my tedium threshold!
 
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