Fretting

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The fret wire has been
pre-curved by feeding it
through a jig, then
cut to length and the
tang trimmed back using
a set of nippers

Each fret is gently
hammered into place,
starting at each end and
working into the centre,
until it is firmly
seated - the two frets on
the right are fully home,
the next one is its way

All frets installed, the
overhanging ends ready
to be trimmed back

The ends nipped off,
the fingerboard slot
ends still visible

The slot ends have been
filled and sealed

The fret ends and
sealing filed back flush
with the fingerboard edge

The fret tops are 'stoned'
using a diamond abrasive
block - only the minimum
of metal is removed
to level the fret tops

A birds-eye view with
light reflecting off the
flats on the fret tops -
the fret tops are checked
with a selection of steel
straight edges across
progressively fewer and
fewer fret tops to
ensure there are no
high spots

The frets are then
re-profiled with a fret file,
leaving just a pencil line
thickness of the flat
showing - this can be seen
on the two frets on
the left

The re-profiled frets are
gently polished with fine
wet & dry held round a
specially-shaped stick with
a groove which matches
the fret tops - the
fingerboard is protected
with a thin plastic shield

The fret ends and the very
top edge of the fingerboard
are bevelled back using
a medium abrasive sanding
block

A side view showing
the bevelled edge

The fret ends are then
polished with fine
wet & dry held round
a perspex block

The fret ends have their
sharp edges gently removed
with an old wedge section
needle file - the toothless
side facing the camera
rests on the fingerboard
whilst in use

The frets are polished with
very fine wire wool paying
particular attention to the
ends

The frets are given a high
final polish along their
length with wire wool

The fingerboard is lightly
scraped with a sharp blade
to remove any dirt and
accidental scratches

The finished frets and
fingerboard - the fingerboard
will be oiled much later,
once the neck is lacquered

<<< Neck Finish Sanding Part 1

Neck Finish Sanding Part 2 >>>