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 Post subject: fretwire help
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:56 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:42 am
Posts: 1574
Location: United States
I am making a soprano uke. Testing fret wire on the brittle bocote that I am using for the fret board chips out the wood severely, i.e. it all goes. I am thinking to use fret wire without the dimples, and raise burrs the old fashioned way.
So, I need a source for ukulele size fret wire without dimples and with the tang not thicker than .022. Any source for this or other suggestions?


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 Post subject: Re: fretwire help
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 5:32 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:50 pm
Posts: 2246
Location: Seattle WA
Focus: Build
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Cut the slots wider? There is some tool you can buy that smashes the barbs smaller. I think it's called Fret Barber.

So, the wood chips out just from hammering the Frets in? Do you relieve the slot a little bit with a triangle file first? Lube them with water or glue? Maybe try pressing them in?

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Last edited by Pmaj7 on Fri Dec 29, 2017 7:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.


These users thanked the author Pmaj7 for the post: wbergman (Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:44 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: fretwire help
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:46 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:42 am
Posts: 1574
Location: United States
The entire amount of wood between fret slots popped off. I did not try the triangle file or lubrication yet.


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 Post subject: Re: fretwire help
PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 2:33 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:44 pm
Posts: 471
Location: Australia
First name: Allen
Last Name: McFarlen
City: Mt. Sheridan
State: Qld.
Zip/Postal Code: 4868
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
You absolutely have to relieve the fret slots on hard and brittle timber. I use a 4 sided awl that I made. Has very sharp sides that just takes one run down the slot. Acts like a scraper. In this image you can see the difference to the ones I've done already, and those that are still needing the reliefe. This is Gidgee, and it's as hard as nails.

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Fret Slots1.jpg


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Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
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These users thanked the author Allen McFarlen for the post (total 2): wbergman (Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:21 pm) • Pmaj7 (Sat Dec 30, 2017 2:56 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: fretwire help
PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:23 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:42 am
Posts: 1574
Location: United States
My saw is 0.023 checked with a micrometer, but the slots only 0.021 checked with feeler gauge. I will try the relief scraping and see what happens.


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