Fret polishing. Dremel a good choice?

[fek]

I just got a guitar back from a tech and he had buffing wheel or something like that and my frets were like mirrors. I want that on my LP.

I have 0000 synthetic steel wool pads and a can of Never Dull but was thinking that a Dremel (or other rotary tool) with a buffing wheel would do a nice job. What do you use?

 

[1big1]

0000 steel wool.. painter's tape.. elbow grease. iirc stew mac has a dremel tool bit for fret polishing. me? i'm just old fashioned i guess.

 

[jkdsteve]

Dremels are good but can be easy to slip with them suckers....so use some decent tape around the frets to save that precious board.

 

[Ayrton]

I don't go that far myself, but I know others finish up with a Dremel. I usually go 320/400/600 paper then finish up with steel wool or polishing cloth.

 

[dfrattaroli]

Dremels are great. Tape your fretboard and take your time.

 

[stratotone]

Get a set of metal fret guards from Stewmac, much quicker than taping.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_su ... uards.html

Pete

 

[jkdsteve]

Get a set of metal fret guards from Stewmac, much quicker than taping.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_su ... uards.html

Pete

Nice!

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I don't go that far myself, but I know others finish up with a Dremel. I usually go 320/400/600 paper then finish up with steel wool or polishing cloth.

320? Wow I never used anything more coarse than 600 and finish with 1200.

 

[stratotone]

I don't go that far myself, but I know others finish up with a Dremel. I usually go 320/400/600 paper then finish up with steel wool or polishing cloth.

320? Wow I never used anything more coarse than 600 and finish with 1200.

Yeah, not a lot of difference between 320 and 400... that's more like what I would use to LEVEL frets. I wouldn't even use sandpaper at all, if you're using an abrasive use 0000 steel wool or a metal polish. Keep your sandpaper off your guitars!

Pete

 

[jkdsteve]

I don't go that far myself, but I know others finish up with a Dremel. I usually go 320/400/600 paper then finish up with steel wool or polishing cloth.

320? Wow I never used anything more coarse than 600 and finish with 1200.

As I'm just polishing..I never use anything more 'abrasive' than metal polish with the polishing wheel/cloth....most times it can be done with just the cloth/polishing bit.

 

[Ayrton]

I use the 320 just to remove any stubborn file marks. I will sometimes break out the micro polishing papers depending on the guitar. However, for most of my players, a final polish with 0000 steel wool is good enough.

 

[Vrad]

I wouldn't go with a dremel for that job. It might take some fret off when you're polishing. It spins pretty damn fast. Just get some steel wool (000 or 0000), tape up your fretboard and do it by hand until they're shiny

 

[Wayniac]

If you use steel wool... may want to cover your pickups too

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Get a set of metal fret guards from Stewmac, much quicker than taping.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_su ... uards.html

Pete

I use those fret guards with
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_su ... _Pads.html
A lot less of a mess then with steel wool, and a nice shine.

I do want to try these
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_su ... heels.html

But I still think that stainless steel frets are where its at.

 

[fek]

Used the Dremel. Frets are like mirrors and bends are smooooooth!

I also top wrapped my LP Trad Pro and figured out a nagging strange noise issue with a new amp. I am a happy guy tonight.

 

[cyndicate]

If you use steel wool... may want to cover your pickups too

Yep, I've had some times where I was lazy and didn't bother, man did I regret that

 

[rupe]

Dremel will do the job but its complete overkill. 0000 steel wool as mentioned is all that is needed.

 

[fek]

Dremel will do the job but its complete overkill. 0000 steel wool as mentioned is all that is needed.

How long do you spend per fret to get that shine? I was never able to get a mirror like finish on my frets with steel wool. Maybe I wasn't using enough elbow grease?

 

[1big1]

If you use steel wool... may want to cover your pickups too

yup. painter's tape.

 

[Ayrton]

After steel wool, you can go back with just metal polish and a rag wrapped around your finger. That will polish them like mirrors without having to bust out the Dremel.