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Todd Sams: Tool developer at StewMac, with Dan Erlewine
Fretting table saw setup
This is a simple but effective setup for cutting fret slots quickly and accurately. Ryobi table saw with a crosscut sled and saw blade with a kerf to match fret slot thickness. The sled has an indexing pin for using fret scale templates with notches. The blade alone sells for $163 on Stew Mac. I also have another blade for sale.
Fingerboard extension gap - new build
I'm nearing the end of my first build. I have about 1 mm gap above the top at the end of the fingerboard extension. I've read and seen some guidance to clamp that down while gluing the extension. Others seem to build in a wedge-shaped shim - although it seems that is mostly done with neck resets and not new builds. A straight edge on the frets is just slightly above the top of the bridge so I think my neck angle is good. What are your t…
Fret pressing at heel transition
Please can I see some quick cauls for dealing with fret pressing at heel transitions? For pressed / glued in frets or clamping down lifting fret ends in this area. I’ve tried a few different methods now and not entirely happy with any of them
Stripped Out Trussrod
I have an epiphone 335 style guitar on the bench right now. Bad fret buzz on the first frets. No relief in the neck. Pretty Clear its a trussrod adjustment and out the door it goes. But the truss rod is stripped out pretty bad. My 4mm allen fits, in but it has a lot of wiggle. My 5/32" allen doesnt slide in all the way. I dont have a full set of torx wrenches. But i thought that might get some grip. What is the best way to get this thin…
CNC errors
I'm fairly new to CNC and am attempting to set up for a fretboard carve. I'm using a one year old ShopBot Desktop Max. This is the first I've found a problem like this. I made some practice blanks and thought I had everything the way I wanted it until I measured me fret distances. Using calipers from the nut to the center for the first fret slot I get 1.399" and I'm expecting 1.4346. I brought up the file and used the measuring too…
Untangler Pro, approaching first production batch
Hi everyone, I am getting closer to finalising the specs for the first production run of the Untangler Pro. The Untangler Pro is made of stainless steel, and it is designed to clean up the underside of fret?s overhangs after clipping away the tang. It works with a Dremel or similar tool and a cutting wheel. The order for the parts needed for the first run will most likely go out next week, so if you want one, now is the time. You can mess…
Stainless Steel Fret Wire
Hi, does anyone have experience with Stainless steel fret wire on acoustic guitars or more specific on classical guitars? Up to now I only used the traditional Nickel/Silver fret wire but recognised that after a few months they start to get mat or tarnish despite polishing them. I wonder if that is because of the origin (Producing Company) of the fret wire or due to the alloy? During my search for fret wire that is not Sintoms and also av…
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The Dan and Doug Show: Slots to talk about
Refretting a Stella Harmony from 1964
61 year old Stella Harmony with brass frets. Fret board is poplar. It needs refretting and I want to try doing it myself given the cost of the guitar was $70 bucks, hiring a pro will cost way more. Any recommendations on Fret wire? I can't find Fret wire that is an exact match. Current frets are 1 mm wide, a hair over 1 mm high and the tang looks to be 2.5 mm deep. Has anyone regretted one of these guitars?
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Luthiers Interactive of North Texas (Simulcast): Setup Basic
1970s Guild S-90
This thing had a conveniently placed hole in the neck pickup cavity that ran all the way to the end of the tenon, presumably the entry point for the long drill bit that drilled the access from pickup cavity to control cavity before the neck was originally fitted. I injected several pipettes of hot water into this hole while heating the fretboard extension area with a silicone blanket to loosen the extension from the body. Reactivated hi…
easy chip out repair after pulling a fret
im still working on my camera skills.
Jaws 2 with a neck jig
This video is just a quick example of how simple the Jaws 2 is for setting frets. We did not include shots of using glue to keep the fret down. This guitar was donated for teaching purposes…We will be pulling all the frets and performing a full refret in a later video
ISO Empty Fret Tubes
I ordered some sections of 2ft length fret wire that were being closed out. I’m looking for a few empty tubes, with caps that allow you to hang them on the wall. Only need 2 or 3 if any of you guys have some extra laying around. Happy to pay for them and shipping costs. I appreciate you guys!
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LIVE Loothing in Dan Erlewine's Shop!
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