Official Luthiers Forum!

I was not going to say this but what the heck. Last night I dropped my Jaws2 hand held fret press on the floor and the threaded shaft shattered inside the self centering caul that hold the radius fret caul. I needed to finish up the fretting of the FB so I took the neck off the guitar and chucked the caul up in the drill press to finish this board out. I know many of you use your drill pres for this but I have only either hammered or used the Jaw2 for some 7 years now.

Man was this a fortuitous accident or what?!!!! After finish up the FB I went in side and ordered a new caul with 3/8” shank. I will never go back to the Jaws2 again. I thought I was quick with the Jaw2 but this was nice. This means I will have to change my leveling and dressing process but not much. I like it.

What I really liked was that I could clip the ends of the frets flush to the board while I had the press caul engaged and get no movement by the fret ends on a bound board. No need to reset the ends because the caul supported them as I clipped them off. That is cool. I suppose I could have don this with the Jaws2 but since I had been fretting with the neck installed prior to this I always needed one hand to support the Jaw2 now I can press the fret in lock the spindle and clip both ends flush simply and quickly as I fret.

Not mine any more either

Very interesting to read this exchange, fellows. I'm glad I stumbled on it! I've considered buying the caul or the jaws system. I have a drill press, and I think you guys just steered me in the right direction. Thanks.
Patrick

harbor freight had a 1/2 ton arbor on sale for $30 not to long ago. All it takes is to drill one hole in the shaft and drill and tap one hole on the side. It is then identical to the SM press that sells for $115. Next time I go there, that is on my list. I still tap my in with a hammer, and every once in a while, I still get a hammer-head dent on the board. Even when your carefull, happends. We made a fret press out of an old Coke Bottle cap press for accoustic guitars and it works wonderfull. So I can't wait to get the correct setup for my electrics.

JD

_________________
Joe