Official Luthiers Forum!

[QUOTE=Rod True]   

Todd, I can see a great use in my shop for that hammer.

It's called stupiditus. Seems I get it quite often and the only cure is a deadblow to the knogan [/QUOTE]



Seriously, though, a small deadblow hammer with interchangeable faces is truly a very useful tool. Here's just one of countless examples: If you make a dovetail neck joint (or reset dovetail-jointed necks), you'll likely be putting the joint together and knocking it apart several times during the fitting and neck angle adjustment process, prior to gluing. A small deadblow with a relatively soft, non-marring face is the perfect tool for knocking the joint apart quickly and harmlessly.

Anyone who has felt at all challenged by hammering in frets and hasn't tried one of these for the task, well, you just don't know what you're missing. Between this hammer and supporting the neck with a bag of shot (for a dead blow effect both above and below), it makes it so easy it's almost laughable. That's assuming, of course, that your slots are properly prepared, as has been emphasized by others above.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

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doug, i don't recall you're mentioning whether or not you are using a bag of shot or sand to rest the neck on when you are tapping the frets in?

[QUOTE=Marc] 25 lb bag of shot under the guitar neck will dampen the vibration making each hammer strike more effective.[/QUOTE]

Can anyone give me an online source for a bag-o-shot? I can't find it aanywhere. I've been using a bag of sand which works ok.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

[QUOTE=Dave-SKG]
Also, also a dremmel with a very fine bit works great for slightly widening the slot[/QUOTE]

I use these to clean and slightly widen my fret slots. I have never had a problem getting the frets to seat. I use fret wire from LMII (FW7400) that is sold in a roll and so is pre radiused at about an 8" radius or so. It works great if you hammer in both ends first and then work across the fret. As it flattens it also expands towards the edges which helps to lock it in. You have to account for this expansion a little if you are doing a bound fretboard or you'll push the binding off. Just don't fit the end of the tang right up against the binding.
John How39028.9189467593

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

shot is usually available at any gun dealer who handles reloading supplies, but among any number online :

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=1&Category id=9502&categorystring=9315***11462***

Thanks Craaaazeeee, I'll check it out.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

[QUOTE=John How] [QUOTE=Marc] 25 lb bag of shot under the guitar neck will dampen the vibration making each hammer strike more effective.[/QUOTE]

Can anyone give me an online source for a bag-o-shot? I can't find it aanywhere. I've been using a bag of sand which works ok.[/QUOTE]

Any place that sells hunting gear, shotguns, ammo, Ebay.

Be careful, lead exposure is unhealthy and shot bags usually have holes and are porous. Put the bag in a bag.