Has anyone tried the StewMac Fret Erasers?

[Thomas James]

Seems as if they work like soft little Japanese water stones.

[Scott Supak]

Just got a set last week, haven't had a chance to try them yet.

I'm up for anything that will improve efficiency.

We'll see.

[harrison phipps]

I have several of them & find the 1000 grit to work well in polishing the top of frets to get the oxidation & finger crud off.  It is fast & easy & leaves no metal particles like steel wool & the frets shine.  They feel like an eraser, not hard like a water stone. Since they are abrasive, care must be used to not touch the fingerboard.

[Mike Kolb]

Bought them, used them.... not terribly thrilled. I'm with Harrison, the 1000-grit does a nice polish but they all pick up lots of the black, grimy metal discoloration smudge. The other grits tend to ball-up little pieces of rubber and wear quickly. I'll keep using them 'til they're worn-out but probably won't replace them. 

[Thomas James]

Thanks guys. I'll try out the 1000 grit then. My finger joints are getting sore. Seems like I am constantly improvising when it comes to fret work.

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

I like the 3m sanding sponges, Fine through Microfine.

[Thomas James]

Thanks Jeffrey. I have tried those. I am trying to get away from using my finger tips as the main backup pad, if that make sense? I need something bigger to grip/hold.  Damn Arthritis!

[Robert May]

Have not tried them and don't think I will. Look too short and bulky to me, since I'm so comfortable with the long narrow sanding stick. I have seem somewhere on the net that micro-mesh belts for the sanding stick actually exist. If I ran a luthier supply house, I think I would offer 'em.

[LARRY KLOSE]

I like the Stew Mac polishing discs, the ones that fit in a motor tool.  They come in a range of grits; I like the finer ones.

Follow the instructions and put a groove in them with a round needle file (old, remember this stuff is abrasive!) and they are great for polishing the frets--I can do a whole fretboard in just a couple of minutes.  The groove keeps them on the frets so all that's to be careful about is not letting it drag and run away over the ends.

Larry

[Paul Hostetter]

Silly. You can do lots of frets at once with a sanding block with 800 grit paper on it, going side to side. It more than covers the bases for serious players, and you play the uppermost crown of the fret—only. Why do people feel compelled to rhapsodize over every trivial little product that comes down the pike? Do we have have to celebrate every consumer item thrust in our face?

Sheesh!

[Mike Kolb]

because we can, that's why.

[Thomas James]

I have been using a sham-wow for final buffing. It's awesome.

[Robert May]

I was looking at information about micromesh and see they have it in silicon carbide and also aluminum oxide. They say the sc is for softer plastics and wood, and the ao is for aluminum and "other solid surfaces". So I guess if I were to buy some, I should go for the aluminum oxide version ?