Stewmac's Z-file. Original, safe or centered? - FRETS.NET2024-03-28T12:18:34Zhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/stewmac-s-z-file-original-safe-or-centered?commentId=2177249%3AComment%3A284033&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noZ-File original here (offset)…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-03-06:2177249:Comment:2840332022-03-06T11:54:29.745ZVictor Crollhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/VictorChristian
<p>Z-File original here (offset). Put off buying one for years and when I did realised I could have saved myself heaps of time over the years where I was using a 3-cornered file. I love this file that much, I even have a spare in my workshop for when my first one becomes useless. Mine is 2 years old and still going strong! Did cost £125 after import tax/shipping for the first one (I am based in England) but still worth every penny...</p>
<p>Z-File original here (offset). Put off buying one for years and when I did realised I could have saved myself heaps of time over the years where I was using a 3-cornered file. I love this file that much, I even have a spare in my workshop for when my first one becomes useless. Mine is 2 years old and still going strong! Did cost £125 after import tax/shipping for the first one (I am based in England) but still worth every penny...</p> Hi, well I've made my mind up…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-02-12:2177249:Comment:2839872022-02-12T06:25:53.604ZTaffy Evanshttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/TaffyEvans
<p>Hi, well I've made my mind up and decided not to go for the Z files or the new tang nipper. The tang nipper would cost me around $240. to buy from an Australian Luthier outlet. And I suspect the Z files to be a similar amount. </p>
<p>I have no problem using the old diamond files. If I angle them on each side of the crown as I file I get a thin black line on the top of the fret. And that is what we are looking for.</p>
<p>The tang nippers are a different story as I do have an issue with…</p>
<p>Hi, well I've made my mind up and decided not to go for the Z files or the new tang nipper. The tang nipper would cost me around $240. to buy from an Australian Luthier outlet. And I suspect the Z files to be a similar amount. </p>
<p>I have no problem using the old diamond files. If I angle them on each side of the crown as I file I get a thin black line on the top of the fret. And that is what we are looking for.</p>
<p>The tang nippers are a different story as I do have an issue with them. I've had them for 20 years and find that at times they will not only remove the tang but also undercut the base of the crown. I had a close look at why and came up with a solution.</p>
<p>This can be seen in the photos. I modified the design so that the part shown comes down and clamps the tang to the edge of the slot surface that the fret crown sits into. This is just ahead of the cutter and allows for a smooth cut. There is still a small area to file down, but I believe that the new tang nipper leaves that too. </p>
<p>I have also made a fret tang filing jig that speeds up that part of the process. two passes and it's done. </p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10093050292?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10093050292?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10093051257?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10093051257?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>I'll show the tang filer later. Cheers Taff</p> That new SM end nipper is a s…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-02-05:2177249:Comment:2837862022-02-05T02:56:51.290ZThomas Jameshttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ThomasJames
That new SM end nipper is a step up. Worth every penny.
That new SM end nipper is a step up. Worth every penny. Yes you do. The Z-file is way…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-02-04:2177249:Comment:2836862022-02-04T17:38:38.383ZRoger Häggströmhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RogerHaeggstroem
<p>Yes you do. The Z-file is way better than all the old ones, at least if you're asking me. I also have a couple of fret files that I never use anymore, the Z-file is the one I use now. Also, I might add, the latest and newest Stewmac fret tang nipper is much better than the old ones. Times they are a-changing :-)</p>
<p>Yes you do. The Z-file is way better than all the old ones, at least if you're asking me. I also have a couple of fret files that I never use anymore, the Z-file is the one I use now. Also, I might add, the latest and newest Stewmac fret tang nipper is much better than the old ones. Times they are a-changing :-)</p> Do I really need a new fret f…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-02-04:2177249:Comment:2835672022-02-04T05:05:23.852ZTaffy Evanshttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/TaffyEvans
<p>Do I really need a new fret file?<br></br>This is the question I agonized over after reading this thread. After all, I’ve still got the first files I ever had, and all the other ones that have come online since. I thought I’ve been doing this for nigh on fifty years maybe what I have will see me out. After all, saving time is not all that important at this time of life.<br></br>Even though Stewmac had a 15% discount offer I resisted the temptation.…<br></br></p>
<p>Do I really need a new fret file?<br/>This is the question I agonized over after reading this thread. After all, I’ve still got the first files I ever had, and all the other ones that have come online since. I thought I’ve been doing this for nigh on fifty years maybe what I have will see me out. After all, saving time is not all that important at this time of life.<br/>Even though Stewmac had a 15% discount offer I resisted the temptation.<br/><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10070023894?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10070023894?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a><br/>I even thought hard about their new fret tang nipper, do I really need one, after all I already have two that work well and one other I retired years ago. Resisted that temptation also for the same reasons.<br/><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10070024500?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10070024500?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a><br/>Cheers Taff</p> I still have the old centered…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-02-02:2177249:Comment:2836712022-02-02T11:58:16.009ZRoger Häggströmhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RogerHaeggstroem
<p>I still have the old centered diamond file. I use it all the time to round off the end of the frets, and also occationally for wide or low frets instead of the Z-file. The Z-file is the only one I use for new frets.</p>
<p>I still have the old centered diamond file. I use it all the time to round off the end of the frets, and also occationally for wide or low frets instead of the Z-file. The Z-file is the only one I use for new frets.</p> Thanks. But how low can you g…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-02-02:2177249:Comment:2835602022-02-02T08:10:20.195ZBob Steinarssonhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/BobSteinarsson
<p>Thanks. But how low can you go? How low frets can you file with your file?</p>
<p>Thanks. But how low can you go? How low frets can you file with your file?</p> i'll chime in to say that it'…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-02-02:2177249:Comment:2833722022-02-02T06:16:10.068ZWalter W Wrighthttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/WalterWWright
<p>i'll chime in to say that it's the centered Z-file for me</p>
<p>i haven't tried the original offset one but the idea of constantly flipping it over and hoping my line stayed centered didn't appeal; i could go back to my 3-corner file if i wanted to do all that</p>
<p>the trick if any is to actually roll the centered file left and right as you go across, that accomplishes the same task of hitting the fret sides with both shallower and steeper facet angles of the file and more quickly narrows…</p>
<p>i'll chime in to say that it's the centered Z-file for me</p>
<p>i haven't tried the original offset one but the idea of constantly flipping it over and hoping my line stayed centered didn't appeal; i could go back to my 3-corner file if i wanted to do all that</p>
<p>the trick if any is to actually roll the centered file left and right as you go across, that accomplishes the same task of hitting the fret sides with both shallower and steeper facet angles of the file and more quickly narrows up the center strip (while still avoiding the very center, the main selling point of the Z-files)</p>
<p>stewmac even now says that the original is best for low, worn-out frets (which i make it a point not to waste the customer's money leveling) while the centered is best for tall new frets </p> +1 with Roger's comment. It's…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-01-29:2177249:Comment:2836422022-01-29T02:51:04.686ZThomas Jameshttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ThomasJames
+1 with Roger's comment. It's nearly mindless. The center line remains. Extra wide flats are the only outlier. They need work with a tri-file to start.
+1 with Roger's comment. It's nearly mindless. The center line remains. Extra wide flats are the only outlier. They need work with a tri-file to start. Tack!tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2022-01-28:2177249:Comment:2836402022-01-28T18:26:25.756ZBob Steinarssonhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/BobSteinarsson
Tack!
Tack!