You NEED This Fret Polishing Tool
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- At crimsonguitars.com we design and make heirloom grade luthiers tools, and sometimes we come up with better ways to do things...
This is one of those times. Sanding and polishing guitar frets by hand is one of those horrible jobs that takes too long and, to put it simply, often puts too much strain on the luthiers hands.
With this new fret sanding and polishing tool this process is far more comfortable and takes half the time it did before. Ben demonstrates the process on the Hand Tool Only Build, which is nearing completion.. You will LOVE this tool.. Guaranteed...
Get your hands on this amazing new tool here: www.crimsongui...
#luthier #luthiery #luthiertools #guitarworkshop #guitarbuilding #guitarrepair #guitartools #luthierlife #luthiers #tools #toolbox #toolsideas #toolsinaction #toolstip
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
Conclusion
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Ben's camera setup includes: the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro, Prime Cameras (Front facing and over the bench) Canon EOS 250D, suspended from the ceiling (bench side) Canon EOS 90D, and on the movable tripod a Canon M6 Mark II
Any music used in this video from Epidemic Sound - www.epidemicso...
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We'd like to thank our partner for helping to make this video possible.
TRITON TOOLS - www.tritontools...
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![ถามตรงๆ กับ อาจตุพร ทำไม ประเทศไทย ใครเป็นนายก ก็โดนด่า พอออกเเล้วคนคิดถึง!!?? l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3YFLMXxBGAs/mqdefault.jpg)
I went down the leather strop + diamond lapping paste rabbit-hole 6 or 7 years ago making my own fret-strop tools by removing the bristles from small cleaning brushes and gluing on leather. On the plus side, you can get a much finer surface polish than any other method used on guitars as diamond pastes are available in incredibly fine grits down to 0.1 micron (for example, 0.5 micron diamond paste is the equivalent to 60,000 grit mesh whereas the finest grade of micro mesh paper is 16,000). But I abandoned this method fairly quickly for several reasons. First and foremost: it's not actually faster. When you factor in the number of times you need to charge the strops with paste and the number of strokes required with each compound, you aren't really saving any time. Plus you need to develop the groove in the leather before the tool becomes useful and that takes time too. I didn't have to make my own compound like Ben did, but mixing powders and mineral oil only adds to the time and potential ramifications of witchcraft (I hope Ben doesn't weight as much as a duck). Second: hand fatigue. You aren't really saving strokes with this method either, especially if you decide to use more than 2 grits of paste. Thirdly: cost. Diamond paste is by far the most expensive method for fret polishing I've tried. Now I'm a perfectionist so none of these things would matter if the method did an undeniably superior job, but in all honesty I find fret polishing reaches a point of diminishing returns very quickly. Sure, you can get out your jeweler's loupe and judge the micro scratch patterns, but you'll never feel the difference between 12,000 grit micro mesh and stropping or compound on a buffing wheel. Then consider that as soon as you play, the strings will leave micro scratches on the frets anyways, so your bragging rights are short-lived. So all that to say this: been there, done that. Went back to a buffing wheel and still carry micro mesh and miracle cloth for maintenance. Your results may vary. Cheers!
Buffing wheel ftw. I'm never abandoning it.
I’ve used a lot of different things, but find micromesh papers folded up give a great finish. The folds make a slight cushion and the feel of leather, which conforms to the fret beautifully. Working through the grits I sometimes switch to autosol but often just go to 12,000 grit. It’s very quick, very clean and great results too.
I have used that too, many times, but find it gives me major finger cramps over time.. and it doesn't last anywhere near as long as the strop does.. that being said, the real thing I am so excited about here is the ability to have, essentially, a crowning file with various coarse grits embedded so that I can skip the shitty step of sanding out the crowning file scratches.. I have NEVER liked that process.. and this totally eliminates it :)
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars to be fair, you will have done this tedious process probably more often than I have, and cramping can happen at times to gentlemen like us in their, ahem, late 40’s. I’m a tech from North Yorkshire and have used many of your tools, which although expensive, are rather good indeed. I wish you success with the new tool idea Ben and best of British to you.
Great idea Ben, we’d love to have you on the guitar builders collective podcast to talk about tool design and your work on the guitar museum. Cheers Dave
Fret erasers work decent, haven't tried the micro mesh cloth yet, but probably does a great job
I want one! I’m learning how to polish and finish frets. This looks fairly easy to use and somewhat foolproof. The finished product is beautiful. As far as new tools go, I need something to get rid of fret sprout. Something that won’t damage the fret board but works as well as this tool.
It just goes to show there's always more than 1 way to do something - this is just another way. Seems pretty cool - the only 'irritation' you mentioned that this doesn't appear to solve, is the fact it's messy.
Wow, I think it's what every guitar player wants. L9ve it ,admire you for your work and determination for perfection. Well done mate ,respect.
Incredible! What a great idea for a polishing tool. You are a genius!
Those frets look absolutely glorious
Sometimes I'll use a Dremel with a soft cloth buffing wheel with some jewelers red polish, kinda like doing by hand as well. I think it's whatever fits the mood a lot of times. But pay attention to the mood because at a gut level it is usually pretty precise.
Alternate solution which addresses issues with full blown Dremels: mini dremel-like tools used by nail salons. Thinner, smaller, more precise, far easier to control, less RPMs but still more than enough for polishing frets beautifully. Most are battery powered so no cable to get in the way. And dirt cheap. Try one for yourself. All of the benefits of full blown Dremel tools for polishing frets but with almost none of the downsides. I have been using these mini dremels for years with superb results on my own axes. Then again, I am no luthier. :)
I love simple solutions, and never happy 'faffing about' with various tools, papers, rubbers, dremmels... a wood and leather tool just 'feels' right, and if it speeds the process... even better! 😎👍🏻
Right on.. The old phrase 'Keep it simple stupid' is something I should scream into the mirror before I design anything.. Ever! I love simple, but tend (especially in guitars, to do my utmost to complicate my damn life lol 😂
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars Absolutely Ben... Luthiery work, (as a (very) amateur luthier), whilst precise at times, is very a much a 'touchy/feely' skill set. Any new process or tool that enhances that 'running your hands over', close work experience is to be embraced. Thanks for all your sharing and development of tools that harks back to traditional methods. Much appreciated. 😎👍
WHOA ! That's funny, I also abhor fret leveling/crowning/polishing. For the leveling I still use my trusty old 12" granite straight edge that I got from a metal workshop auction for cheap and which is just the perfect weight so that you only need to push it back and forth a couple of times with the tips of the fingers to get the job done, and for the polishing I use large and thick round bottle corks (for kitchen jars) that I cut straight in half and add a long straight notch in the length of the cut, then I start with fine steel-wool (which is pushed in the notch) and finish with polishing compound.
But I got to try with leather 'cause the leather fiber is much much finer than the cork fiber.
THANKS FOR THE TIP!
I do not build guitars. My fantasy is to be able to play one, but the truth is I just love music and the line is kind of drawn there, for now. Having said that, I do love working with wood, in a quite rudimentary way. There is something so peaceful about it. My pride and joy is a puzzle caddy with a chessboard top, made in the midst of a bunch of crap life was slinging at me, which I used cedar pickets for. If I was paid pennies an hour, it would still have cost a few hundred dollars, that's how slow I was moving (the material was at most $10). But I did it. So many times when I wanted to stop I heard Ben's voice, quite kindly interjecting: "Go make some sawdust." thanks, Ben. There is a lovely, mischievous spark in your eyes peeking out again that I quite love.
Mirror for each fret done in one sitting not afternoon or day. Honestly at this point, you could have curated sets of tools for each major process of guitarmaking or part. This tool is a godsend compared to tedious needle file kits or going at it with just sandpaper and knuckle! That’s a gem right there.👌
You should try a custom lap. Carve a groove to fit the fret shape you want, cover with aluminum foil tape and charge with a diamond compound by pressing the corresponding fret wire against the groove with compound. With how soft fret materials are each lap should last a decently long time. If you look up lapping for precision machining it is crazy how fast and how fine you can get without building heat. CBN also acts as a heat sink, if you want to use a dremel tool instead of hand lapping. Can use it for grinding hardened steel without blowing a heat treatment.
Awesome stuff as always! Looking forward to seeing more of the handtool build!
I really like your idea. I would definitely buy one. I usually use 7,000-15,000 grit sandpaper, but im also not building guitars, or polishing after crowning. Im just polishing with string changes to keep my frets nice and smooth and shiny. it doesnt take me long and since they are my own instruments i dont have to worry about messing them up. I obviously dont want to mess up my instruments, but that pressure of everything being perfect for a customer i dont have to worry about.
Just glad you are working on finishing the hand tool build guitar.
You and me both.. Slotted the nut today.. And came up with a new way to use the spacing rule!?! Video out on Friday.. I'm getting back into the swing of things and LOVING it! 😁
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars Now that is music to my ears!
I'm going to try the leather strap, thank you for the insight.
Ben, love the fret end fine file it is so much better and nicer to use than any other file I’ve used before. Great tool for the job. Sorry for the delay but I rarely remember to give feedback, my bad.
Ben, this is a nice way of polishing the frets, my only concern would be if the fret may be at different levels if you are more boisterous on one fret, but that is also a concern with the other polishing methods.
I like the fact that its wood on wood, and not metal on wood, so damaging the fretboard is highly reduced.
As an idea, so a set of two or three, with different grits and a small bottle of oil. But you could also produce these devices pre-loaded with specific grits.
Give us a nice price.
I use the Dremel at very low speed, it's take much more time, but yo go safe for made a slip or heat up the wood. Also I try to jump quick between frets... I made like 4 passes...
Great tip
Really like the look of those polishers, when can we uy some? Kempton Park show??
Not a tool suggestion as such, but I've always wished you'd make a bridge pin holder (2x 6 holes). Bit of stiff leather in a nice timber frame / stand.
Ingenious! I too hate machine polishing the frets and having a hand problem myself the sanding/polishing phase is quite painful for me after a while. Can't wait to try out the little stroppies!
I usually use a 3D printed plastic block; ending in an edge shaped like the fret. This allows me to use different grits of sandpaper. Then I use a polishing compound, applied with a piece of cotton. But the wonders of leather are amazing!!
I'm going to get a piece of leather, to use to apply the polishing compound, and see how it turns out. Thank you very much for the video.
Let us know how it works for you
Warning people!!!!Please refrain from cutting the back of your mother's leather sofa to make one of these tools 😂 great idea Ben👍
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars Sure!!
What a relaxing video, just like the old days! And so good to see the hand tool build again! I do hope you're going to make hand made wooden tuning keys for it? Would look so good, like a medieval lite!
Shhh.. No more ideas, please, pretty please.. I can't have any more ideas for this guitar! 🫣😑🤔
Good idea. Even just make the tuning knobs from wood as Ben has done on previous builds. That wouldnt be too much work Ben :)
I appreciate what you do so much. You have genuinely had a positive impact on my live.
I agree.
Great little tool would love to see how you made it
Interesting tuning machine head buttons. Nice touch.
Tell you what...I would buy a couple of those right now! You are correct that polishing is a tedious process - anything that makes it easier is a bonus!
Brilliant. Just genius simplicity at its finest (or coarsest, depending on the grit).
Part of me wants to make these immediately, while another part just wants to throw money your way for a set.
I need to make a new strop for my knives, gonna try making this
Now thats a hand saving tool! As much as i enjoy the process of doing fretwork my hands dont. This is a bloody fantastic idea for a tool n by eck them results!
Nicely done sir
I've always used one of those foam manicure sticks. Conforms to the fret great, has all the grits and doesn't harm the masking tape. One last about two or tree necks.
Been there too.. I love nail files, I just prefer a bit more longevity with the amount of frets we work on.
I love the idea of this strop tool as it is much safer than the wrap method for fretboards. I used to use Autosol, but I could never stop the black deposits that end up on your fingers, post-polish, whilst playing, no matter how much I cleaned the frets with naptha/isopropyl etc afterwards. Do you/your customers have the same issues?
Interesting video Ben!
I first came across Crimson a few years back and indirectly too! I believe I was watching a Brad Angove piece where he reviewed your fret rubbers! When he said there’s this company in Dorset, in the UK - well, my eyes lit up!
I think I now have most of your luthiers tools and your fretboard cleaner and also restorative, which I believe are made from Angel’s tears…! Wonderful stuff!
Love the products, love your work and SO glad to see you back sir! 🥰🥰🎸🎸☕️☕️
Definitely going on my list of "tools to make before I build my next guitar." Thanks for sharing it!
It's a win, great!
I might have skipped this video, as it was obviously a new tool ad, but I recognized that fretboard in the thumbnail!
I think that the strings would have almost no resistance at all making play it an absolute effortless joy.
Doing mine now😂
I love this tool idea! I think it would give me a great sense of satisfaction to polish my frets like this! Definitely produce these as a kit!
I've smoothed and polished the frets on many of my and others' instruments, and I actually rather like that process.
It can be so rewarding to see that deep shine and experience the smooth feel of a polished fret under a new string...
And yes, it can become a bit tedious. But perhaps the main difference is:
I'm not doing it as a job - I'm merely an amateur in this.
But I do like to get it /right/ nevertheless.
My main issue, especially now, is how much strain is put on my fingers holding sandpaper, micromesh etc around tiny credit cards etc.. I wanted to remove that side of things primarily.. I absolutely LOVE taking a fret and making it shiny, pain.. Less so 🤘
Nice one Ben. For the last couple of years I've been using micromesh stuck onto a wooden handle with slots made with the correct profile (different for each fret size, made with the stock fretwire and micromesh). Very similar in effect and currently still "sharp" after about ten fret jobs. 1500, 3700 and 12000 grit. Some parallel thinking going on here I guess...
Greetings from manchester, New hampshire, USA. I think those are some of the most beautiful frets I have ever seen. Love your Channel.
Very fast! Brilliant result, Ben. Thank you for sharing and continuing to seek better methods. 🙏
Yep - that's a great tool... I'm not a filer and crowning candidate but i do polish my frets when needed and it's laborious and a little messy. This tool would be so much better...
I made my hand-made guitar, with no knowledge or even a workshop and no "powertools" just the dremel and old drill, take me four months. Body: musicman in a Super strat style, with P90 and LesPaul electronics. 😁😁😁
That is awesome!
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars my worst nightmare was.... that thing going to "work" and did, even the octaves are nailed it, You inspired me to take the risk, Thanks bro.
Nice job man.Your right.Better less abrasive.
I have been using the metal fretboard protectors and steel wool for polishing, they come out nice, and my arms come out beat down and tired. That tool looks very interesting.
Happy to see the hand-build back! The fretboard has come out gorgeous. By contrast, the bridge sticks out like a sore thumb now. I am curious to see how you'll finish it up -surely, you can't "burn it" now it's on?
Working on that today.. Video of this weekend.. And you'll hear her play! I'm going to have to stain the bridge to match.. No fire at this stage... ☹️🤔🤘
I cut some strips of leather from an old belt and glued them to a piece of wood, then put some car paint cutting compound on and wow in hardly any time they turned out brilliant and easier to control. You need to patent this if it isn't already thanks.
You're the master.
I've only ever. built one guitar to completion and I used a strop to polish the frets when I did it. I cannot believe this is not something more common.
You worry too much, man....and that keeps bringing me back. I love your work but mostly your life journey
Thank you
I need those! I really need a whole leveling and polishing kit, but will never have enough $$ to buy them the way my life is going- which is downhill faster than a toboggan on ice. In any case, I can figure something out. I've developed fairly severe neuropothy in my hands over the last year, with numbness and tingling in both hands and first three fingers on the left and all but the pinky on my right, so doing anything fine has become almost impossible, but tools like that would make it much easier, for sure.
I also like your hand tool solution However my choice is a small wool buffing pad on an electric drill as used in automotive detailing This is very quick and avoids the risk of damage you mentioned when using the buffing wheel
Great invention! Time saving oh yeah.
Very curious Ben! What size frets did you start with and finish with? Please give actual size not just med, jumbo, thanks so very much.
I’m looking to make a change in fret size.
Cheers
you could take this concept, and determine the idea fretboard round over at the edge, then build a strop that you run down the edge of the fretboard from top to bottom, and it puts the ideal round over on it! Not only would it make building the guitar a little easier, it would also provide the perfect tool, for guitarists to improve comfort/playability on the guitars they already have.
already on it, 3 prototypes in and coming soon my friend!
I heard a story once that James Olsen, very famous luthier for players like Phil Keagy and James Taylor, was preparing a guitar that he had been building for a very long time to be sent off to the customer. While placing the guitar in its case he saw a minor flaw in the finish and decided to buff it out. The guitar got caught by the buffing wheel and was ripped out of his hands and the guitar was damaged extensively. The way I heard the story, Olsen was so distraught by this accident that he stop building guitars for a while. Hopefully I'm telling the story accurately.
I think what ever you do is perfection
I wish that were true, but thank you for the sentiment, I really appreciate it!
Best hobbist on you tube by far 👏 what a genial tool. When you give attention to the details, always pays back and love comes back to you, to your soul satisfaction. 🙏
Thank you so much 😀
That is fantastic. That would be a fantastic addition to my workshop.
Aaaaaand ordered…
Yay! Hand tool only build teaser video 😂
New tools get me goin also.
Count me in!
Used to use leather faced buff sticks with diamantine and then polish for polishing steel clock and watch pivots, this is a really good extension of this for frets - why have I not thought of it?
I use a 3" felt pad on an electric buffing machine and heavy compound which doese the job in a few minutes
Wow, just wow... You've done it.
Wholey krap, you've done it.
Yes, put these in production please. Another idea, replacement leather for this tool? Perhaps an idea to consider?
they are in production - ordered last night :) (the link is in the description of the video) - excited to give it a try :)
Beautiful fret work!
You can see Ben you still wore throughthe tape if you check your videos you can see where that happened. I think it is an alternative but you swap wrist rsi probably for golfers elbow if you were doing this all day long. I like the idea of leather and compound as it works great on chisels
Looks amazing. Wonder if there is a way to do it without leather.
Nice work, loving the traditional craftsman vibe.
Don’t quite understand how a 400grit carborundum oil/powder gets so shiny , and also my StewMac fret crowned is 300grit… so I could go straight to 400? Or does the oil/powder/leather mix polish way above the powder grit number
Will you be building any of these leather fret tools I would be interested in purchasing it. Thank you Very nice
I just wish you had made the larger fret polishing rubbers. I e-mailed a few times, but never heard back. I might have to give this a try instead.
Genius.... brilliant.... that is all.
Thank you
Hi Ben , me being a graduated goldsmith used the "leather on a stick" method for years.... Not having a polishing machine at home forced me to use the alternative method. Even used a browning steel...!!! ( not adviced ). I know you did some goldsmith stuff yourself , a very old craft ( same as luthier ) , with a lot of special tools and methods that can be very well used for guitar related stuff. Love your way of approaching and finding new stuff and tools....
leather on a stick.. lol. so true.. this is fractionally more refined than those 4 words ;)
Every now and then I catch myself saying 'I wish I trained as a ... goldsmith, product designer.. book conservator etc etc and this is why, there are so many tricks and techniques that are widely known to these subsets of makers that don't often make their way out to other subsets... I LOVE learning.. and I really really love finding ways to make my work, and that of others, more efficient and enjoyable.. and goldsmithing is a field ripe for scraping for ideas and techniques. I've never been formally trained, but I very dearly would love to be one day!
Thank you for this, you rule! now.. I am off to google 'browning steel'.. sounds.. ah, scary?
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars The way you "LOVE learning" is very addictive for all viewers (if i may say so)..... Improving is always a challenge and always the best way of educating thyself....
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars I'm Dutch so my English isn't top notch , but a browning steel ( i had to look for the translation myself) , is a hardened steel stick with an curved end that's polished. You rub the steel over silver / gold to make it smooth and shiny (usually using some spit to keep it sliding well). Its a tool used to polish hard to reach spots , and i think it was used before the machinery was invented to polish complete objects. You've might have found it yourself already i guess , but if not , now you know..... ; )
I use Cape Cod. Works like a charm.
Howdy Ben, I know you’re using 220 Coarse material, it’s so packed that it must be a higher rating 220 than standard cause it “sands” better than standard 220. Same for your 400. Much less space between the material. Nice idea.
😮 Oohhh Shhinnyyy , I gotta say I’ve used a lot of different brands of metal polish…
But I’ve been using Autosol for 36 years now and I’ve always found it to be the best polish for all types of metals and other shiny stuff as well, and it’s always the tube of paste I prefer, even to the Autosol Cream (that’s just me) especially when you can polish Aluminium to look better than chrome if you put the effort into it… Cool Ben , I hope Autosol will one day sponsor someone like Yourself or Me 🤔
Come on Autosol jump on board for the ride Ben would appreciate that I’m sure…
And I wouldn’t mind a tube or more 😂😅…
Great idea with the new tool… seems pretty cool and very useful for a few jobs I’d say …
RideOn …
🇳🇿 ✌️😎👍🇳🇿
I usually use a dremal to do the job but it is incredibly messy and it does go through the tape fast if not careful, I would definitely give this new tool a go, depending on the cost and most of all, that it comes complete as a system with the oil and powder.
Intrigued to see what else you can come up with cause it’s a really unpleasant job.
Maybe stick it to an electric calving knife 😂
Bluejeans material works well with soft material too. You would be better using an alumina powder though.
Would this also work on EVO gold frets?
Very interesting. Presumably one would need several tools though.
I had a maybe stupid idea : a neck binding with fret wire ? Is it possible ?
Ben I've snagged one of these but just wanted clarification on whether these are pre-impregnated with the grit or if we do that ourselves? Just so I can order some as I wait for this to arrive in Australia.
Okay.Now make the handle where it can be chucked up into a reciprocating saw!
Amazing Ben as always you are an inspiration
Good idea and a good result.
Looks like a great tool. Im intrigued because i also do get cramps in my fingers with the creditcard method. But in polishsanding mode dont u risk taking too much off the top? Or does the strop not have too much contact with the frettops? Youve mentioned 220 and 400 grit which is tha range for leveling. Cheers V!
Is it a stick Blackadder?
Looks great
Nice one Ben. As long as you don't call it 'Ben in the Buff'!
Do you shape wood surface to partially accommodate the radius at all?
Yup! I want!
You said it polishes to 1000 s grit but you only use up to 400 grit, also the friction caused would surely produce heat which will have the same effect as the dremmel ?
This looks much easier than what I've been doing. Can the strop be made from an old leather belt, or is a specific grade of leather required?
It could.. But it needs to be particularly heavy, thick and strong natural leather or it will disintegrate.. So, really.. It depends 😬
I definitely need one of these 👍
Yes you do 😅
Might want to look at the leather that will hold the grit the best and be the most abrasion resistant - kangaroo maybe? Admittedly you'd have to use it A LOT to tell the difference (but maybe not?)
Haha! Kangaroo leather. With the pocket it would hold a great deal of material quite nicely. : )
Be buying one when they come out 🎸
AMAZING!!!!!!!!
Does it remove the flat top left on the fret as well as the usual method ? Cool idea if it does 👍
Seems something similar to what the Canadian guy that developed the Guitar bench thing uses.
I seem to remember that, who was the guy, do you remember?
Hmm… soft leather core. And a clip to hold some wet/dry sandpaper. Might have to try that instead of the soft foam / hard rubber sticks I’ve been using