Last Update: 09/14/07

Online Apprentice-
Level the Frets,Bevel the Ends, and Polish the Frets.

In this lesson we will Level the Frets,Bevel the Ends, and Polish the Frets.

Make sure you have read this lesson all the way through before beginning the lesson.

Now that the frets are installed we need to file the fret ends so the do not stick out over the edge of the fingerboard. Take a file, I use a 6" StewMac Fret Leveling file, and file the fret ends even to the edge of the fretboard.

Use a file to add a bevel to the ends. I use a StewMac Fret Beveling File to bevel the fret ends. Mine is modified so the bevel is only 20 degrees instead of the 35 degree angle built into the StewMac file. I built a wedge out of wood and used double stick tape to adhere it to the fret bevel file body. This way if I want a custom bevel I can remove it and install a new wedge if need be.

Here is a close-up of the fret end bevel. Now lets level the frets.

Use a blue "Marks a Lot" felt tip pen and mark the top of all the frets.

Use the StewMac 16" Fret/Fingerboard leveler to level the tops of the frets. I face mine with 600 grit sandpaper and level the frets until there is a fine line that appears on the top of each fret.

Re-Blue the frets and use a fret file to crown the frets. I prefer the StewMac Dual-Grit Diamond Fret file and the StewMac Fingerboard Guards to protect the fingerboard.

Check the frets in groups of three with a StewMac Fret Rocker or LMI Fret Height Gauge.If the gauge rocks back and forth use the diamond fret file to lower the middle fret. Start with frets 1,2 and 3. Then the next three 2,3 and 4. Then 3,4 and 5 and so on all the way up the neck.

If the fret needs aggressive removal of material I use a file that I modified and bent the upper third to make it easier to use on the frets. Only a few strokes will be needed to remove a lot of material.

Re-crown the fret if needed.

Once you are happy with how the fret leveling process went you can now buff the frets with Micro-Mesh abrasive. I go through all the grits from 1500 up to 12,000.

Here is a look at the finished frets.

Here is a look at all the tools that were used in this lesson: Micro-Mesh, Modified spark-plug file, Blue Marks-a-Lot pen, 16" fret leveler, 6" fret leveler file, Fret beveler, Fingerboard protector, and a diamond fret file.

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