RobF -> RE: damage fret slots (Aug. 18 2022 11:42:32)
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Howdy Stu, Are you bevelling the tops of the slots with a triangular file before hammering in the frets? Also, dampening the slot with a drop of water or a bit of white glue rubbed into the slot and levelled off with your finger can help prevent chipping by softening the wood fibres and also acting as a lubricant for the fret tang as it’s being hammered into the slot. Without seeing pictures and guessing what the problem is, I think it might be best to try to reseat the chips by pushing them down flat with the edge of a metal ruler or the like and drizzling CA glue along the edge to hold them in (along with the fret) without removing the fret. There is the danger of the chips coming off and getting lost if you pull the fret to replace it. I guess the decision to pull it or not would depend on how poorly seated it is. If you do choose to pull the fret and reseat the chips, it’s helpful to have some Teflon sheeting (or veneer wrapped in scotch tape) the same width as the slots that can be put into the slot and act as a dam against the slot getting flooded with glue during the repair. Once dammed, the loose chips can be reseated and/or any missing wood filled with ebony dust and everything held together with a thin bead of CA. Then pull out the Teflon/veneer dam, sand the board, clean out the slot, bevel its top edges, and refret.
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