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Seems like I did a bound fingerboard some time ago and dont remember how I handled this detail. Some of the fret ends are just slightly raised on the binding. Inclination is to glue them with some medium cyano but thought I would check before I do. Any thoughts are appreciated

I use the nippers form Stew Mac They are great

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Pullers,_nippe rs,_sizing/
Fret_Tang_Nipper.html
Pullers,_nippers,_sizing/Fret_Tang_Nipper.html">StewMAC fret nipper

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I bought the fret tang nipper from Stew Mac also, especially after cutting the tangs on both sides with only a pair of plyer/cutters, i thought that my bud Al was right to have this tool!

Love the tool! Loooovvve the tool!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

That's too funny, I just got a package today from Stew-Mac and guess what was it it.

That's right $1,000,000...... Oh, that was from Ed McMan.

Yup the fret end nippers, havn't tried them yet, but after doing 4 bound fret boards, enough with the little sander, I'm doing them the easy way now.

Oh Ya.

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I did whack them down but have a couple that wont lay flush and did nip the ends with the tang nippers. I ended up wicking just a drop of cyano while holding them down and seemed to work. It was very very slight but I could hear it when I filed the angle that a couple were loose. I'll see how it holds and if it gives me trouble I'll pull the couple of frets and reinstall.

Thanks guys

Rich, even with the tang nippers sometimes there is a little burr left on the underside of the fret where it lays on the binding. If you take a small file and clean up that little spot they will lay down nicely. DAMHIKT

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Dave - I'll bet that is what the problem is, especially given that all were ok except a couple. Thanks for the heads up.

My process for refretting bound fingerboards adds a couple of steps after using the Stew Mac fret nippers. First, I will file the underside of the nipped ends to remove any ridge or burr that is often left where the tang meets the bottom of the crown. This area is not absolutely square during the manufacture of the wire and the nippers won't correct this. Second, I back file a slight angle on each end of the fret tang so that the ends of the fret tang move away form the binding as you progress downward from the underside of the crown. There is always a possibility that some old adhesive, dust, or something a little tough to remove may remain in the ends of the slot, leaving you with less than a perfectly square corner. These steps combined with a light over radiusing of the fretwire usually give me consistent results without having to glue the ends.     

[QUOTE=MarkW] I back file a slight angle on each end of the fret tang [/QUOTE]
Good idea, Mark! Thanks.