Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello friends
i saw that fret crowning files are too costly to buy as well as shipping charges are high too
so i wana try to build of my own from a nearby workshop

yesterday i bought 10 x 10 x 60 mm brass block
i want to mill a slot in middle with ball nose endmill cutter

may i know the diameter of the end mill cutter. and how deep should be the slot.
also how to do diamond coating in the slot. or diamond lapping paste would do the work?

im really in need of this files. pls help

I had a really nice diamond crowning file from one of the guitar supply vendors. I was greatly disappointed. The pre-shaped arch in the file was too flat, and most of the frets "hissed". I am going back to a flat file.

I also had tried a little bone or similar that has the diamond dust applied to an angled surface, without an arch. The idea is to file to a pyramid, then gently round the top with fine abrasive. I just did not have the energy to spend the time it would take me to use this tool.

You can use a three corner file and that's how lots of Luthiers still crown frets. Inexpensive and available, be sure to safe the edges.

The Stew-Mac diamond files are a joy and we love em. Below is a pic of some of our current crop.

Regarding school bus shaped crowns if you rock the file that won't happen OR crown without rocking and then hit the sides several or more times with a safed three corner file.

What some call expensive to use are a real bargain for others. Considering the costs here we can have our files pay for themselves several hundred times over before they start to not cut as well but still have some life in them. Ours get used very nearly every day.....

I understand that costs are relative to if one is a hobby builder/repair person or working in the trade. For folks working in the trade these files are a really good buy!

The Stew-Mac files also work in both directions making them at least twice as fast for the same amount of physical effort - time is money for folks who work in the trade and not so much for folks who do this for enjoyment.

I understand the costs associated with shipping off shore, currency exchange, customs, etc. and that's why I am also suggesting a simple, time tested and true safed three corner file.

the most handy tool I have is a piece of cork and 800 grit paper.

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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 3 corner files. I prefer it because I can hit up any hardware store and find something that works, and it's cheap too. I don't even safe the edge, I just use the steel fretboard protector. Make sure to get a fine cut file to minimize chatter.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

For a low tech solution make a file shaped object from hardwood and wrap fine sandpaper around it.