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What are your thoughts on the best fret crowing files and why?



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A triangular file with the edges ground "safe". They are cheap and versatile and can be had at any good hardware store. They work very well when you get the hang of it.

I started with the triangle and probably did 20 or 30 fretboards with it. It does give you the most control. And very cheap.

I keep buying the new diamond files thinking that I'll find the ultimate one and sell the others. But actually I find that I like to use them all for different situations.

New username, same ole Pat Macaluso!

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Pat

This.

I like this one in 300 grit

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead ... ISA&adurl=
After getting the crown how I like, I take a 1" X 1" square of 800-1000 grit pinched between the file and the fret and polish out the 300 marks.

I have one of the diamond z files, but it leaves a really wide flat spot after leveling :/


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I've been using one of these. The learning curve is very short, maybe even non-existent but not cheap.
https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... currency=D

If you want to try a traditional file, search for cant saw file. You can find them for $10 or less but you'll need to safe the edges with a grinder.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... _File.html

I've made a lot of money with one of these. The rolling wrist technique is easy to learn and works well.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Years ago I got the Gurian 3 in one fret file and immediate hated it. I had been using a 3 corner file for years and thought I'd give it a try. Then after a few more years I got that offset diamond file that Stewmac sells and while it cuts fast and is a descent file it left the tops a bit too flat for me. So back to the 3 corner file I go.

But just last year I decided to take the old Gurian file ouf for a spin. What I found was if I use the 3 corner file to do most of the bulk work the Gurian is an awesome file to finish off the tops as it leaves a perfect shape. The reason why I didn't like it in the first place is because it didn't cut fast. I see now that they make them in diamond. Expensive but I bet well worth it.

If you decide on the one you want, and want to get a used one for cheaper, let me know. I have one of each of the Stewmac offerings when I was trying them out. I use the offset diamond at the moment.


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Jeff, where did you see the diamond gurian files?

New username, same ole Pat Macaluso!

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Pat

It's John

Looker posted it above: https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... currency=D

It's pretty much the same design except that instead of inserts you buy 3 different files.

I have and use all of the files listed above but I use the regular Z file most often and I definitely don't end up with flat topped frets. Chris Pile said it properly, the rolling wrist technique, or whatever you want to call it, is what's going to make the difference. i.e. you need to know how to make whatever file you use take material off of the fret where you want it to.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Fretting is a process and do not expect any file to be the finishing tool.
After I level the frets my crowning process is this
I threw out all the tooth files for fretting as they always left chatter marks. I tried a lot of files
and being a machinist nothing ever did a perfect job. I then switched to Diamond files and never looked back

once leveled I mark each fret using a shapie pen. I have yet to see a crown file do a great job so I use them as I work the fret. I want to
leave an even line of marker about 1/32 wide. Then I use cork and start the polishing process. The cork will crush and give a nice crown, I use a fret protector and work through the grits to about 2000 then use my buffer to finish off the frets.

What it comes down to , is the fret job is the way this guitar will feel so your guitar is only as good as the fret job

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

John,

That sounds like a good process to follow. Any preference on where to get the Diamond Files?

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Sorry John! I have one of those and yes, the work-to-hand angle is similar to the Gurian. The Gurian seems good because it comes with a small fret cartridge. All the ones I have bought are M-L because that's mostly what I see. Although it would be handy to have a small size one without spending another 70! It is nice to hear that it also leaves an ideal profile. Too bad someone doesn't make a daimond file with the ideal profile.

Chris, I assume the rolling motion you're talking about doing is for the Fret ends as that is a fret end file. Or are you using it for crowning?

Snowman, the idea is to keep going until your flat area becomes a very skinny flat area.

I guess if I was stuck on a desert island with one fret file, I would probably go for the offset Dimond. It would probably be harder to decide which guitar I wanted though...

New username, same ole Pat Macaluso!

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Pat

Yes to what John said with the Sharpie and when the filing is done the job isn't. I polish starting with 320 to get any file marks (I use diamond files too) out and then work up to 1000. There's a technique to that too.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Yes, Pat - I bought it for fret ends, but it works very well as a crowning file. I've made a bunch of money with it - certainly a worthy purchase!

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... FkQAvD_BwE

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Diamond-Fret-C ... :rk:8:pf:0

these are the crowning files I use the most

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I use these as well. A word of caution, I bought an unknown eBay version and the diamond dust wasn’t well bonded to the metal. Three guitars later there was little grit left. I know the StewMac ones are made in China too, but at least there is a company to complain to if the grit wears off.


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In doing some digging I found the diamond files from stewmac (which I have) are meant to leave about a 32nd” flat spot....?
I think I saw this on the video under the product.
They are meant to never touch the rib, which I can appreciate, but 32nd seems a bit wide to me

Here’s the file I use




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rememeber the crowning effect will work using cork or rubber eraser
trust me I only did about 1000 fret jobs

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

John I sent you a message to clarify


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1/32 is perfect.

if you can, and if John agrees, please summarize the conversation for the rest of us.

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