Refret jobs: hammer or press??? - FRETS.NET2024-03-28T15:42:36Zhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/refret-jobs-hammer-or-press?commentId=2177249%3AComment%3A92557&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI bought a set of the stew ma…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-10:2177249:Comment:930292012-09-10T05:32:09.456ZMichael Shawhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MRS
<p>I bought a set of the stew mac fret press cauls on ebay and even bought an arbor press from harbor freight but just haven't gotten around to setting it up. I want to give it a try. But even if it the cats meow you still need to learn the hammer in method since you can't always press the frets in on the upper frets on an acoustic. Yeah yeah I know stew mac has a special tool for that too and it cost another $300. I should also say the hammering method allows me to relieve some stress. I…</p>
<p>I bought a set of the stew mac fret press cauls on ebay and even bought an arbor press from harbor freight but just haven't gotten around to setting it up. I want to give it a try. But even if it the cats meow you still need to learn the hammer in method since you can't always press the frets in on the upper frets on an acoustic. Yeah yeah I know stew mac has a special tool for that too and it cost another $300. I should also say the hammering method allows me to relieve some stress. I kinda find it relaxing....Mike</p> I have an 8" piece of 4X4 cov…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-10:2177249:Comment:930262012-09-10T05:27:52.569ZChristian Johnsonhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ChristianJohnson
<p>I have an 8" piece of 4X4 covered with an old leather guitar strap I use for a neck support. I hammer directly over it. I've never used a press, but I can feel the feedback through my hammer when the fret is "home." I use a half bag of shot on an acoustic body to hold it steady and keep the noise down, Wear earplugs!</p>
<p>I have an 8" piece of 4X4 covered with an old leather guitar strap I use for a neck support. I hammer directly over it. I've never used a press, but I can feel the feedback through my hammer when the fret is "home." I use a half bag of shot on an acoustic body to hold it steady and keep the noise down, Wear earplugs!</p> Would a sand bag work just as…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-06:2177249:Comment:927722012-09-06T20:21:20.919ZMarkinCOhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/KellyeMarkin
<p>Would a sand bag work just as well as a bag of buckshot?</p>
<p>Would a sand bag work just as well as a bag of buckshot?</p> Look for a gun shop in your…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-06:2177249:Comment:928822012-09-06T18:24:48.300ZNed Knepphttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/NedKnepp
<p>Look for a gun shop in your area that caters to reloaders. They should have bags of shot available. </p>
<p>Look for a gun shop in your area that caters to reloaders. They should have bags of shot available. </p> Maybe part of my problem is m…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-06:2177249:Comment:926812012-09-06T13:45:05.580ZMarkinCOhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/KellyeMarkin
<p>Maybe part of my problem is my work surface. Like Hesh stated, my workbench is on padded carpet. And I've been using a home-made wooden neck rest to support the neck when hammering. Can I buy a bag of buckshot at a sporting goods store or is something that needs to be made? Open a bunch of shotgun shells and dump the contents into a bag???</p>
<p><br/>btw - I do not build, just repair, so my only opportunity to refret with the neck off is in the case of a bolt-on.</p>
<p>Maybe part of my problem is my work surface. Like Hesh stated, my workbench is on padded carpet. And I've been using a home-made wooden neck rest to support the neck when hammering. Can I buy a bag of buckshot at a sporting goods store or is something that needs to be made? Open a bunch of shotgun shells and dump the contents into a bag???</p>
<p><br/>btw - I do not build, just repair, so my only opportunity to refret with the neck off is in the case of a bolt-on.</p> Almost forgot, on a refret I…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-06:2177249:Comment:925572012-09-06T07:28:06.326ZEric Steven Johansenhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/EricStevenJohansen
<p>Almost forgot, on a refret I make a caul fit to the guitar, usually three pieces, two fit to the braces to a balanced height and one block to cover them both, and then double tape a 1/4" thick steel plate to the whole thing. It's worked so far.</p>
<p>Almost forgot, on a refret I make a caul fit to the guitar, usually three pieces, two fit to the braces to a balanced height and one block to cover them both, and then double tape a 1/4" thick steel plate to the whole thing. It's worked so far.</p> In the case of new boards, I'…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-06:2177249:Comment:926772012-09-06T07:21:27.726ZEric Steven Johansenhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/EricStevenJohansen
<p>In the case of new boards, I've been fretting before mounting to the neck for a while now and prefer this method. The secret is slot width to fret tang tolerances, too tight and the board bows excessively, too loose and the frets wont hold. Practice practice practice. The reason I enjoy this method goes to Hesh's point though. I hammer over a piece of rock maple clamped into my 100 pound bench vice and I can not only feel the fret seat, but I can hear it even with my terrible ears. It's the…</p>
<p>In the case of new boards, I've been fretting before mounting to the neck for a while now and prefer this method. The secret is slot width to fret tang tolerances, too tight and the board bows excessively, too loose and the frets wont hold. Practice practice practice. The reason I enjoy this method goes to Hesh's point though. I hammer over a piece of rock maple clamped into my 100 pound bench vice and I can not only feel the fret seat, but I can hear it even with my terrible ears. It's the weight and density of my work surface that makes the difference. </p> Yes you deduced correctly in…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-05:2177249:Comment:927592012-09-05T22:49:19.389ZHesh Breakstonehttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/HeshBreakstone
<p>Yes you deduced correctly in that there are many ways to fret in locations such as the fretboard extension on an acoustic. Here are a few thoughts:</p>
<p></p>
<p>1) Fret buck as mentioned</p>
<p>2) Although the block of wood held under the extension is the right idea something with far more mass such as a cut-off of steel from a steel supplier bargain bin offers far more mass and as such is a better "anvil" to resist the fret hammer.</p>
<p>3) The Jaws II press, the only one that I use,…</p>
<p>Yes you deduced correctly in that there are many ways to fret in locations such as the fretboard extension on an acoustic. Here are a few thoughts:</p>
<p></p>
<p>1) Fret buck as mentioned</p>
<p>2) Although the block of wood held under the extension is the right idea something with far more mass such as a cut-off of steel from a steel supplier bargain bin offers far more mass and as such is a better "anvil" to resist the fret hammer.</p>
<p>3) The Jaws II press, the only one that I use, comes with cauls and specifically a caul with a cut-out for the upper transverse brace. Although one size rarely fits all these cauls are easy to make as needed.</p>
<p>4) Although I am not a fan of the practice... on a new build many builders fret the board off the neck precluding the need to fret the extension on the guitar at all.</p>
<p>5) Someone has a plan out there to make a fret buck and I just can't remember who at the moment. Although I have not used a shop-made, wooden fret buck I have a hunch that wood having far less mass than metal which is what the Taylor fret buck is made of may not work as well. Again this is speculation on my part but a huge part of what makes the Taylor fret buck work very well is it's mass. Make one out of wood and it may not be as effective.</p>
<p></p>
<p>When I was learning to build guitars my second shop was in a carpeted extra bedroom in my condo. For the life of me I could not understand why my fret hammer strikes did not produce the expected results. One day by accident I just happened to be hammering frets very near one of the bench legs that added far more support to resist the hammer blows... The frets went in nicely. Sheesh.... although my language at the time of my discovery won't be repeated here I did not feel like a very bright guy that day.... ;)</p>
<p></p>
<p>This is also why many builders will support the neck when fretting with a heavy bag of shotgun shot - mass is your friend when tapping in frets was my lesson that day....</p> Guys, thanks for all your inp…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-05:2177249:Comment:924692012-09-05T13:44:47.550ZMarkinCOhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/KellyeMarkin
<p>Guys, thanks for all your input. I understand how having the right tool for the job can make or break you. I guess the press is one of those things I'll add to my tools when I get enough money. But for now, I'll keep working with my hammer .. practice, practice, practice.</p>
<p><br></br>Mark brought up another question ... the fret buck. Is there another solution for supporting the top when hammering in those last frets? I've used a block of wood held up against the top inside the soundhole.…</p>
<p>Guys, thanks for all your input. I understand how having the right tool for the job can make or break you. I guess the press is one of those things I'll add to my tools when I get enough money. But for now, I'll keep working with my hammer .. practice, practice, practice.</p>
<p><br/>Mark brought up another question ... the fret buck. Is there another solution for supporting the top when hammering in those last frets? I've used a block of wood held up against the top inside the soundhole. Seemed to work ok but maybe I got lucky. The fret buck is really expensive.</p> I own a Jaws tool, an arbor p…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2012-09-05:2177249:Comment:924642012-09-05T02:40:46.521ZMark A. Kanehttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MarkAKane
<p>I own a Jaws tool, an arbor press with cauls, Jaws II for over the body, and a small dead blow mallet. I use the hammer 75% of the time, and <em>always</em> coupled with a Taylor Fret Buck on acoustics. I use Jaws the remaining 25%; I never use the Jaws II. As with most any hand tool, feel is paramount and it takes lots of practice. Practice makes almost perfect.</p>
<p>I own a Jaws tool, an arbor press with cauls, Jaws II for over the body, and a small dead blow mallet. I use the hammer 75% of the time, and <em>always</em> coupled with a Taylor Fret Buck on acoustics. I use Jaws the remaining 25%; I never use the Jaws II. As with most any hand tool, feel is paramount and it takes lots of practice. Practice makes almost perfect.</p>