I'm curious about the order of operations. Fender sprayed the finish onto the neck after the frets were installed and most of it got taken off the top of the frets when dressing them. If you do all the fret work first, won't you have to go back and scrape all the frets?

I guess each approach will have its own merrits. I had a strat neck refretted and it was almost twice the cost of the same work on a rosewood neck due to all the finish issues. Your work is very clean.

Last year I had to spray a neck my brother was building. It was my first time and I only had spray cans. I was surprised at how easy it was and how good the results were. The only thing I did was to work slow. I'd apply 4-5 coats, let it sit for a few days and sand off 2-3 coats, repeat as needed. The drying and sanding between coats was the hard part because I wanted it done NOW. Another thing I learned, and that you likely know, is to get good quality sandpaper. I started out with stuff from Home Depot and then got some stuff from an auto body supply place. Huge difference.

This is really interesting because I have always wondered how you go about doing a re-fret and have never really watched any one do one.  

Is the file you are using something you have bought through a guitar supply store; I am assuming that it came embedded in the white plastic block at the correct angle?  How will you level the frets, do you use a long straight edge to check them.  Very interesting stuff.

Love the look of the larger jumbo frets.  I bet this is going to play nice and be easy to bend strings.

I understand why you're curious John- I stated the frets were ready to be leveled and not when.

I've read that Fender use to scrape the finish off the frets with a nail that had a groove cut in it lol.

The original finish was on the sides of the frets I removed. I ran a razor knife down both sides before
removing them to help prevent chipping the wood. I guess it helped.

This will be my first spray finish. My plan is to spray two coats of clear and then let them dry very good...a day or so...then
I spray the tint and then clear to see how the tint looks. More tint if needed and if not, clear until I'm satisfied or empty.
I'm sure they did the same thing or that wood would not have been as white as you can in the picture. Those first coats are
to prevent the dye from reaching the wood.

You're absolutely correct about the sandpaper. I have micro sanding pads too that are very good for getting a jeweler polish
on the frets.

These posts I make are not lessons. I'm simply sharing me "going for it". No fear and if I gas it at least I'm having fun. If it works out- great.
I gather info and go with what seems to "stick" and look forward to see if it works out.

So far I haven't done anything that I feel is rocket science and not beyond anybody, that really cares, to do themselves.

I can understand why the cost is high to have others repair or build. If I added my time up and charged what I make per hour at my day job...well I'm most certain that I wouldn't have any customers LOL.

There is also some negative that comes with it. I have no ego but now that I can build a guitar, build the pickups and compare the quality
to the equipment I use to love shopping for....well that's gone. I still love to look but now there is just no way that I would pay.
Those people sanding that wood and winding that wire don't have magic fairy dust...they use the same tools and materials that anybody
else can use. It's just a matter of whether or not one cares to spend time doing it. IMO.

With no ego I know that when this neck is back on I'll have twice the guitar (with my pups) that came out of the Fender Custom Shop.
They didn't build that guitar for me...I have the advantage...I know what I like and that's the BIG difference.

Mike it's just a metal file. One could mount it in a block of wood etc. I bought it from Stu Mac. really one could
just use a file. It's a visual/feel thing anyway.

Yes I have a machined straight bar and also a radiused aluminum block of which either could be used...a preference thing.
There are quite a few tools that I use.
I'll try to show the steps when I get to that. First I have to survive spraying plastic all over it!

You work fast.

:-)

I like how this thread is going here..I've been thinking of a refret here and was wondering about sources...good work!!

Frets are leveled, beveled and polished- and a little fall-off from @15 fret up...perfect.

Leveling is nothing more than getting the neck straight (adjust truss-rod if needed) and using
a very straight ___insert what you prefer-and sand/file all the frets level. Many techniques to do it but
I mark the frets with a marker...that shows how it's going...low frets and the marker still shows..etc.
"Crowning" is making the fret rounded again and leaving a very thin flat area down the middle of the fret.
More than enough videos on youtube for that.

I tape off the board before working on frets.

after they're level I bevel the ends...pic shows everything I use to "dress" the frets and the ends of- and a couple
of the results.





This one shows a few of the spots that I was concerned about- the existing finish cracking away.
I knew it would happen but not how bad it would be. I think when I spray it'll look be Ok.
So...on hold until the sprays arrive.

Those frets look amazing. You won't get that level of detail from your average repair shop. Good job Spacey.

i've actually used clear acrylic nail polish, to dot-in filler on spots like this..

but you are right, spacey, it may well take of itself with the finish.

Thank you John. I've been working hard and really focusing on
fine tuning the process. I finally reached a state of consistancy that
has given me comfort and confidence to really fine tune details. Always
room for improvement but I don't worry as much about screwing things up.

Bat I've done the same...I see CA glue used with great results but eveytime
I've tried "touch-up" it just didn't work out. It's an elusive skill for me....but I
still try lol.
I'm thinking it will because I read about the spray "melting" into previous coats...
Like I said, first time so I hope it's a smooth leaning experience.