Official Luthiers Forum!

Do any of you use the fret pressing caul with the drill press or do all of you hammer?

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Ron,
I think most people just hammer. When you get over the body on the FB extension you can't use the press caul anyway. At the ASIA convention this year I went to Frank Fords fretting class, and was shocked to see him not even crown the frets. He just hammered them in, made sure they were level with that little fret rocker tool that SM sells, then that was it. Just filed the ends and rounded them over a little. It was amazing!
Tracy

Stew mac has a new "Press Clamp" that alows you to press the frets in over the extension. I bought one, but have not tried it yet. It comes with three cauls to fit a wide variety of instruments. Basically you tighten down the clamp ( like a regular Bessey clamp) and the fret is seated with the help of a brass caul that matches the fret board radius. Great idea when you simply don't want to hammer on a delicate extension (even with a "dolly" in side). I also bought one of LMI's new "dolly's" that Frank Ford designed. It too is simply ingenius! These guys never stop comming up with great solutions. Here are a few pics of tools I use depending on the situation at hand...as you can see some don't get used too often ( very heavily covered in dust):




Dave-SKG38569.7200462963

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I just ordered the upgraded version of the Jaws 2 fret press for over extension pressing comes with call that fits through the sound hole and caul for the neck. I will let you know what I think of it on the next guitar.

Right now I press 1-10 and hammer 11-20 or what ever. I have only been pressing for the last three guitars. It is quicker but you still have to be sure that they seat every where.

I've used a press and the standard hammer and then Harry Fleishman turned me onto this:

Stanley Compo Cast Dead Blow Hammer

And I will never ever go back to anything else, it's the same one that Cumpiano talks about, it's thin, small and perfect for frets.

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

Thanks, gentlemen
I have a dead blow hammer and I have the caul so I will try both and see which I like the best. Just really interested in seeing what others were doing.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

It's the fret press for me, I use the drill press for it.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

    I used the press the hammer and fret buck. I now open the slot and glue them in. I use a cawl and a C clamp.
john hall

I agree with Mark. I do a bolt on version similar to Hank M. I glue the board to the neck and press the frets in with the board rectangular.( If you shape the neck, you might leave dings or dents in it.) It's great.
Hope this helps,
Glen S.

Hello John

I've thought about trying the method you use for opening the fret slot. Do you have to do anything to ensure that the fret stays dead central to the original slot ? The thing that concerned me is if the fret moved a fraction off line would this not effect the fretted note ? Or are we talking such minor changes they would make no difference ?

Or am I just worrying about a problem that doesn't exist ?

Thanks for the link to the deadblow hammer, Paul. The smallest I could find before was the 8oz which feels just a little too big, and I couldn't remember the size or brand name of the one in Harry's shop.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

John, do you use super glue or titebond?

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

I use one of my dull endmills. the shaft rides the slot. I still use a bevel Tee square set the the proper angle just in case of run off.
   I have used SG but prefer the 5 min epoxy
john

Thanks John.

I Appreciate the help.

I used a hammer until my last 4 guitars and started using a fret press in the drill press and I love it. Mind you I also install my frets befor glueing the fret board to the Neck which maskes it easier.

I press in as many as I can. I like to get them pressed in tight and give the ends a sideways tap. This really ties them in. Over the heel I hammer them in but I hammer on the caul that comes with the press.

Richard, do you use any glue on your frets? Any problem with them loosening?

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

John, I assume, then, that your fingerboard is already glued to the neck and you install all frets before mounting the neck to the body. Is that right?   Also, do you use any glue on the frets?

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Ron, A couple of timnes I have used Glue but normally don't and haven't had any problems with loosening. I did it once after Glueing the fret board on and found it created more bow than I wanted, This way I can control that. On the last fretboard I did I pressed one Fret in off centre and had to pull it, It was pretty solid.

Thanks, Richard

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Ron
   The fretboard is definitely glued to the neck before fretting. I like to keep my leveling options open till the last minute. Anyway, I bolt on the neck and fret board extension as well so that fretting over the guitar body is not an issue.
   I do put a drop of superglue on each end of the fret. I'm beginning to wonder if maybe hide glue in the fretslot might not be a good thing.

John

Thanks, John

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

I like to level first a little glue and hammer them in. It has always worked for me.