Official Luthiers Forum!

HI All

I wonder if I could ask you what you guys use when fretting over the soundboard, I have looked at the fret buck and it looks a great tool, but as with most luthiery equipment, I can't find a supplier in the UK. Because it is a heavy item the frieght from the states is quite expensive, I wondered if any of you use an alternative.

I used the TFB exclusively until the other day when I couldn't get the end of the buck into the sound hole ( fingerboard extended over the hole and the hole was unusually small. I was going crazy until I remembered that our fearless Leader Lance once asked the same question. The answer - an auto body tool called a "body dolly". This is a tool that all the autobody guys use...I believe to hammer out dents. Anyway it consists of a heavy, metal block that easily fits into your hand and the guitar. I put a piece of leather on mine. Then holding it under the fret board (and with the weight of the guitar as well) you hammer each fret as you normally would. I suppose the density and weight of the "dolly" deaden the bounce and give the fretboard some support. I also used a dremel to widen my slots a little and glued in the frets as well. I used this technique from the 16th fret on up as it wasn't needed below that... my heel block is a "c" and therefore supports the finger board( and back )for an additional 2" beyond normal heel blocks.


actually - I didn't remember what it was...Lance was kind enough to remind me.Dave-SKG38542.5529282407

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

A bag of lead shot also works.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I used an old stratocaster tremelo block for many years in repair work. You need to use something that will absorb the shock and that is comfortable for you to use.

--Mark Joy

_________________
Mark Joy

mjoy Guitars

i have a leather bag of shot that serves the purpose.

Just so I unerstand the shot bag method do you hold the bag of shot up against the inside of were you are fretting above?

Yes, wether it is a "dolly" or "a bag of shot" or just an oblong piece of lead. It has to be of some weight substance and is held up on the underside of the fret board area that you are hammering on.

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Thanks Guys I Really appreciate the help.

Russell

There are some pictures in the Tools and Jig section under an article I wrote on fretting.

http://luthiersforum.3element.com/pages/jig_tools_tech/frett ing_by_tim_mcknight.htmTim McKnight38542.8961226852

_________________
tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Thanks Tim

Say, where does one get a 25lb. bag of lead shot these days? Would a trip to a sporting goods or outdoorsman's store be a must, or is there such a thing at Wal-Mart or the like?

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

some walmarts carry reloading stuff. some jusrisdictions have outlawed lead shot, but some sort of shot is still available whereever reloading supplies are sold.

should alswo mention that simply the best neck rest for working on an instrument that i have seen is one of the leather bench rest supports filled with shot. they are not cheap, about $40 or so, and by the time you put $20 worth of shot in one even less cheap, but they really make it very stable. crazymanmichael38542.9791087963

The FRET DOLLY is now available, but not yet listed. LMI showed it at the
ASIA convention in Maryland last month. Here's a preview:

Fret Dolly

I believe a phone call to Chris at LMI will enable you to get one right away.Frank Ford38543.0508217593

_________________
Cheers,

Frank Ford

FRETS.COM
HomeShopTech
FRETS.NET

Russel

If you are hammering in your frets do yourself an enormous favour and buy a dead blow hammer (you may already be using one) they are filled with shot and do not recoil when you strike the fret and as they are rubber coated they do not mark the frets anywhere near as much. Machine Mart carry the biggest range in the UK they cost about ?7. I would not hammer in frets with anything else.



Machine Mart hammers

Colin

PS thanks for the PM message.

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thanks Guys I appreciatte all of the help.   Colin thanks for the tip on the source for the hammer.

Colin could I ask what weight of hammer you are using from this range.

Frank I like the look of the dolly tool.

Thanks - it's based on a similar but crude tool I've used for 35 years.

As to the hammer, I've tried everything including dead blows, and I get the
best results with the lightweight Stanley hammer with the hard transparent
yellow faces. I found I didn't get sharp enough blows to drive stubborn frtes
with the deadblow hammers I've tried (3 different brands). I don't like to use
steel hammers because of the possibility of marring frets.

_________________
Cheers,

Frank Ford

FRETS.COM
HomeShopTech
FRETS.NET

Thanks Frank

Much Appreciatted

Who am I, a humble hobby builder, to disagree with Frank Ford? OK I will, I much prefer the dead blow, I use a 9oz (sometimes 16oz) and have never had any trouble with stubborn frets. They shouldn't be stubborn if the kerf of the fretting saw is wide enough. But each to his own.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thanks Colin,

I think eith most of these things it is finding what you are comfortable with, All i know is I am not getting the result I am after with my current methods, hence the need for change. I appreciatte every ones input as I am sure we all have something to add to the brew.

Thanks for all the help and the warm welcome.

Russell

Thanks Terence, yes I have seen the stewmac design. It does look good.

brian galloup it is i think who has used the bessy clamp based press for years. it's not an s-m original.

An auto body repair dolly. They come in a variety of shapes and size, are relatively cheap and can probably be had at your local NAPA auto parts store. I use a "sort of" rectangle shaped one with a flat face and a curved face. Hold it in my palm with the curved face and press the flat side against the inner area of the top under the fingerboard extension.