Fretwork DIY... Post your tips and recommend some tools too

[Fiddy]

I'm thinking I need to learn ho to do my own refrets and fret leveling. I took one of my guitars for a fret level and I wasn't truly satisfied. While the frets looked nice, im pretty sure the "luthier" used a flat sanding beam as opposed to using a radiused beam.

The cost of my next refret/fret leveling crowning job is my budget for getting the right tools. So what are you guys using to level yours?

[theworkoffire]

Just for info - using a flat sanding beam means you get a slightly tapered radius on the board, and allows for a lower action. Just using a radiused beam doesn't allow for the way the neck itself tapers towards the nut, and can cause the fretboard to end up thinner at the edges near the heel than at the nut end.

[Fiddy]

Right on, thx for that. So you don't use a radiused beam at all?

So instead just getting the tools, I better read a good diy or watch a good video or two. Any recommendations there?

[theworkoffire]

I don't use a radiused beam on frets, no, not unless I'm dressing something I know has been done that way before.

When I'm doing the final level on the fretboard I finish off with a straight beam (I use a 2' spirit level that has a milled base, but it took some finding to get one that was perfectly flat - they get thrown around in the store). I run it straight back and forth down the centre, then as I move to the edges I make sure it swings out more at the heel end so it's running parallel with the edge of the neck. Exactly the same process with the fret levelling. It means you have to be a bit more careful with pressing the frets in, since the radius ends up a little tighter at the heel than the neck, so you can't just rely on the cauls to get it right.

I learned a lot from Frets.com, but I haven't looked at it for a while; I don't know what it's like now. First couple I did were awful. One, an old Japanese cheapo, went in the bin, the next, a Klira Jag, I re-did once I'd got the hang of it. After that I was just about ok. So I'd say buy the tools and learn on the job, but don't start on a guitar you love or have paid good money for!

[Fiddy]

Thx for the info, >I think i even posted about this before. Crap, im losing it with old age.

But while we are at it, what do you think of this beam?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/GuitarTechs-LONG ... RTM2067268" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[theworkoffire]

I prefer to use something much thinner so I can see what's happening either side of it. The one I use is about 3/4" wide, maybe just under.

[antisymmetric]

Flat sanding beam for me too- I use a piece of aluminium bar stock, 38x38mm, with adhesive-backed sandpaper on each side- 80, 120, 220, 320 grit.