![]() Doing it freehand will require developing a technique which you have to find for yourself by actually doing it. The Nicholsons are very fine, sharp files. If it gets too tedious, stop, take a break or continue working later. It's all about going slow, steady and being very patient. ![]() If you do it, the best way to work will become plain to you quickly. It seemed to be the most effective way to get it done once I actually started. I did most of the work from the outside in. I've never used real fret files so I can't compare. The hobby files worked but I can't say I recommend them. It took me 4 hours using the freehand method. I had to remove a lot of material on most of them before I could start finishing them. All the frets were too long and barely angled. I did a whole guitar once that had no fret finishing at all. I used what I already had which was a set of Nicholson Hobby files and masking tape when I was having problems keeping a steady hand. If they are really rough it will still take plenty of time. Hopefully this made sense.Special files will make the job a easier. A strip of tape on each fret and then mask the back to be extra careful. This will not take off the nubs and it is necessary to leave them exposed when you do this.īottom like is to mask the fingerboard and even the neck well. Not using a file and not filing directly parallel with the fret means, you won't really hit the binding except the very but of the nubs that is showing. ![]() This assumes you do not need any dressing of the frets just smoothing out the ends of the fret. ![]() It takes a bit of experience to know that you can lean your cloth as you move toward the fret ends to get them all hit with the emery cloth and after. ![]() This is what I do when I cam doing a fret dressing as I get toward the final end. Then run various grades of scotchpads after this to buff even smoother. This I learned from Bill Barker and it cleans up the fret nicely without really do any digging in to anything. Then depending on what you need you can simply run some fine grade emery cloth at a 90 degree angle against the frets using the heel of your had to apply light pressure. Tape the fingerboard well between the frets. ![]()
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March 2023
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