Great thread spacey.

How did you cut off the ends of the frets after they were installed ?

I've never done this but I would have thought you'd cut them close before installing.


EDIT : I just found out about fret cutters. Makes sense.

Spacey,
That sure looks pretty.  Thanks for sharing.  Love the photos of your progress.

Thank you Richard. Sure glad it's being enjoyed.

Thanks Star. That is a good question and yes this one is Maple.
I haven't refretted Rosewood or Ebony but I'll try to give an answer...
With the wire having barbs, directional barbs, designed to bite into the wood
and help prevent it from raising out it's probably safe to say that there is going
to be "damage" to any wood.

The techniques one uses to remove them could make all the difference in the world.
Just as I heated the first fret I pulled to soften any glue- and found out that it was a
step I didn't have to do.
The right tool, the fret puller and using it ...etc.

So if one does the "normal" steps and we know there will be damage it's knowing how
to deal with it.
I was told when I started that half of being a luthier is knowing how to work your way out
of problems. With that thought it's simply a matter of being able to recover from any damage done.

I had two major points in my favor- one, the frets weren't glued. The other is that I was going to be changing the radius. Even though I would be sanding I wanted to make sure
that any chips were dealt with. I didn't want any small pieces that were outside of the fret crown area to get away.
There were two and I immediately CA glued them back into place before continueing.

With Ebony one can use fine sawdust and make pretty nice repairs. It is also so hard that
it chips easily. It doesn't really show grain unless you really look close...unlike the other two woods.

I guess I can't say one would pose more of a problem Star. I think the deal is to be able to
address whatever may be needed with whatever wood it is.

Rosewood can be pretty chippy as I found out working on my daugher's Strat.
Thank god for super glue.

I'm sure there are different kinds of rosewood which probably plays a role as well.

The 'real' rosewood on my old wordworking tools is pretty resistant.

Haven't got the materials yet Mike.

I've been talking with some luthiers about it. Surprised by their suggestions too.
They all suggested different material and doing it before fretting.

I'm sticking to my guns. I know the original finish wasn't done before the frets.

With luck I'll have the stuff by this weekend. If so I'll start Sat. morn. and hit the sealing
clear coats and let them set-up. Monday eve. it should be good to attempt the tinting coat(s)
and more clear.
I'll try to get pics of the steps...or my stumbling lol.

Looks very nice.

How long do you plan to wait before you call the finish "hardened"?

best regards,
mike

From what I can see in the photos it looks really nice so far Spacey.  What color is the body and what are you thinking about changing to?

That looks really fine Spacey, great job!

I'm not any type of expert but 2 weeks is how long I'd wait before any wet sand or buffing. The biggest danger is buffing through the tint coat and exposing the white wood. Finishing work takes time and patience. Patience was never my strong suit but you seem to have it.

Based on your postings I'd imagine you could start taking in work any time.

I'm still hoping I have a place in line.

:-)

:-)

Awesome.

:-)

Very nice!

"I have a Heritage 535"


What color?


:-)

Thanks Mike and Paul.

Paul-"I didn't time it but it seems like I have at 24 hours in it."  - is a good example of my proof reading and writing skills.  "right at 24" I'm sure was my intention.

It was an estimate of actual working time. The photos from start to finish of this thread have "project" time.

I work on many things at the same time and no reason to track time. 

I mentioned the time because I just recently read at a Strat forum what a refret job may cost -which was 250-300 hundred dollars. I don't know.

Refretting the 535 would be a project I'd like to see. A bound fretboard is something I have
yet to do. I hope you post if you refret it.

"What next?"...well I'm suppose to be building a Tele style for a friend but I have questions and haven't seen him. I think he's going to be disappointed that nothing has been done but I'm not the one sleeping...also haven't received the birdseye maple that I expected to have by now. So....that's a good question Paul. I don't know so I'll just pick on that '57 until I do.