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How do you do it? what bits do you use that dont want to first, cut the slot to wide, and secondly wonder outside the line?

Thanks

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

keeping it in the slot is surprisingly easy. if the cutter submurges deep enough the shaft will run in the top of the slot and act somewhat like a guide. That part is pretty easy.

Finding a bit that doesn't widen your slots has been more challenging for me. I have some dental burrs that Paul Woolson sent me, plus some tiny bits from StewMac, but they all seem to widen the slots a little.

They have fretted ok after doing this, but I routinely use glue as part of my fretting.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I forgot who gave me this great tip, but he got if from Sergei de Jonge. If you are trying to clean up dried glue in the slot just heat up a thin knife. Works like a charm.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

I use a dremel to clean fret slots all the time. I found a tapered bit at my local tool store, unfortunately it was a lucky one time deal but I just picked these up at Stew Mac and I haven't had a chance to try them yet. The bit I use now doesn't wander at all, it just takes the path of least resistance, right down the slot. Works great. Just be careful to stop at the binding

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Try McMaster-Carr part #8915A25. The dremel has insufficient RsPM and a lot of runout, so go slow unless you want to be buying these by the case. :)

I would also fashion a quick-release fence of some kind, because if you try to take a full pass (i.e. cut into the side wall of the slot) you will probably break the cutter right away.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

How about something to that will cut at the top of the slot, I have a fretboard with inlay over the slots, I used a saw to cut through the inlay but I would like to clean them up a little, IM thinking something that indexes from with in the slot and cuts above it?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Don't use a sharp or new bit. A well used one will do fine as it doesn't take much to clean the slot of glue or much else. I have witnessed this on a big batch of guitars at shop I am at now, in the past week. The thing I was told is that a new bit can grab the fretslot at the opening and can cause tear out, dull bit increases better results