Firefrets -> RE: Restoration of a 100 year old parlour guitar (Jul. 14 2023 18:51:26)
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I added a little wax around the frets, before individually seating them all correctly, with the help of some ultra thin superglue. [img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53045929460_17769345b6_b.jpg[/img] [img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53045938890_37b6fcf3ba_b.jpg[/img] A quick clean, and then a bit of ink, followed by a bit more wax. Most of what I put on here will be removed again, but it will keep it happy for now until I've done with the heavy work. [img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53044957952_f26752f2ac_b.jpg[/img] Then I'll do a quick check with a fret rocker, to give me a visual of where the main problems are. Any particularly high frets will get taken down with a flat file, and once I'm in the ball park, I can level off. I think my heavy work level is made from a table leg and a roll of 120 grit. [:)] It does the job though, and afterwards I can go over it all again, and dial it in. I don't think you need me to show too many pictures of a fret job, so I'll plough through as getting tired ha ha. [img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53045764854_030f01fc51_b.jpg[/img] Once I've levelled off, and fairly happy, I'll actually polish up before I crown. Depending on how much filing, and condition, I'll start of with anything from 180 to 240, 320, 600, then an Indassa pad (about 1000, and steel wool, followed by kitchen towel. I'll do the crowning after 320, then polish up with the rest. I think that's plenty for frets, especially on a vintage guitar, and leaves them looking really nice, without looking brand new and modern. My favourite file is a triangular file, although I'd like a slightly longer one, as it can be a bit awkward on the extension. They're great for so many other jobs too. I have some crowning files, but I can shape a fret much better with the triangular file. I'm not a big fan of taping the whole board. I like to give every fret my attention, and I think you rush through too much when the whole board is taped. When you do them individually, you tend to do a better job, plus it saves on masking tape. [;)] [img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53046035223_a6e3fd4afd_b.jpg[/img]
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