Official Luthiers Forum!

i'm about to buy some fretting tools pretty soon so i can actually finish something and i was wondering what are the absolutely necessary tools needed for a good fret job start to finish.
    I don't have much money to work with due to Christmas so i'm trying to spend the absolute least amount of money but with decent quality tools.

thanks guys,
andrew

Either a fret press (or caul for the drill press) or hammer.

A very flat 10 or 12" file for flushing the ends and maybe leveling.

A tang nipper (if you are binding the FB)

A crowning file.

A triangular file (with corners ground smooth) for dressing the ends.

I use the StewMac aluminum caul for leveling, but a flat file will work.

Sandpaper for polishing.

That's all I remember. There are several approaches here, though, so you will get a lot more info than you want.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

There was a discussion a couple months ago about these fret levelers. Pretty low cost solution.

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53% of all statistics are made up on the spot
http://driftwoodguitars.blogspot.com/

My short list:

-small hammer (I have an old cobblers hammer that is perfect...)

-end cutters

-triangular needle file with 2 faces ground flush

-fine flat file (8"-10") with the tang removed and stub ground smooth (or stew mac file with attached handle grip)

-Micro mesh set for finishing/polishing 

If you properly dress the board and hammer, you won't need to level with a file, or re-crown for that matter. Tape the 1500 micromesh to a flat block if you must for leveling.