Best Fret Crowning Tools (Demonstration and Comparison)

In this video we are comparing different fret crowning tools. These are one of the most important tools in guitar building and guitar kit making. Crowning your frets is a key part of having a guitar that plays well. There are lots of different options out there for fret crowning tools, so in this video we will take a look at 4 of them and see how they perform..
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[@charlie-obrien]

I'm still using my Baroque (similar to the hosco) and I am extending its life by starting on guitar frets with the #3 side for large frets and then finishing with the standard #2 side. I use a little bit of influence to keep the side of the file against the side of the fret and to keep from going over the top. Then finish up with the standard side and all is good. I keep it clean by using a small brass brush on it after every fret, to keep it from clogging and eventually dulling.

[@NatureAndTech]

Wow! Perfect timing. I'm going to do this tomorrow on an Epiphone Dot.

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

High five I'm sneaking up on refret in Epiphone LP special

[@getenlightened]

Looking forward to your video on nut file options!

[@marksr12]

This is one of the most helpful videos on fret files I have seen. Thanks!!

[@hog-boy-8843]

Great Vids Bro - straight talking, to the point, nice and clear. A real help. Cheers.

[@BradAngove]

Glad I could be of use

[@GuitarNTabs]

I bought the Z-Files, and I like the Original one the best. It's 300 grit, so it's removing material pretty quickly. It's quite effortless and does a great job of crowning the fret, without removing material from the top, leaving a nice, consistent line. The Hosco 3 sided crowning file is 600 grit, so very fine in cut, and I like to use that lastly, to just smooth things out, and make that thin line even thinner. It won't remove material as quickly as the other files, so it's great for finishing up. It's also really good for rounding off the fret ends, when refretting, to take care of any sharp edges, etc. The Crimson file is also great, but I prefer the accuracy of the Z-File. Thanks for sharing.

[@BradAngove]

Cheers. Thanks for your insight.

[@bertrandmajorik6589]

BASS player here, thanks for the tips, nice video.

[@kevincoffee3238]

Like they said, good timing. Information I can use. Your videos are getting really good, man, very helpful and informative, and during the GGBO process, it seems like you've gotten more relaxed on camera. Keep up the great work, it's much appreciated.

[@BradAngove]

Thanks Kevin. I decided after seeing the response to some of the trash talk that I should have a little more fun with it haha.

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

I have three Little Bone fret files from Japan and a curved handle file. Can't wait to see you Duck Walk when that 335 is done, LOL

[@BradAngove]

Hahaha

[@sanderbrugman8157]

There is also an other technique for a triangle file. You can put the file at an angle of 15-ish degree from the fret and move it from side to side so you only have a small contact point to the fret. This has a bit more control for me so i can see exactly how much i take off

[@BradAngove]

Sound like an interesting technique

[@Returnality]

This is what I do. I like the little strip at the top to be as thin as possible and this is the best way to do it. You can go back and work on the sides to get the exact shape you want afterwards too.

[@grieverrule]

Just filmed a toolbox talk for my channel and I feature the triangle and Hosco style files.....brilliant informative content again Brad, thanks 👍🏻

[@BradAngove]

Thanks Mark

[@timgittar]

Think I'll go with the StewMac. Fast, good quality. I have their free shipping option, but it takes forever.

[@UAMartin7]

FretGuru Dagger 2.0 is also a very good choice at very reasonable price.

[@charlie-obrien]

Yes, half the cost of the Z-file and gets really good reviews. I'm still using my Baroque (similar to the hosco) and I am extending its life by starting on guitar frets with the #3 side for large frets and then finishing with the standard #2 side. I use a little bit of influence to keep the side of the file against the side of the fret and to keep from going over the top. Then finish up with the standard side and all is good. I keep it clean by using a small brass brush on it after every fret, to keep it from clogging and eventually dulling.

[@barunsinhabts3513]

Wow bro fantastic 😍 video and thanks for sharing this amazing important information so very beautiful guitar 🎸so I love all and happy Diwali 🎉 this is Indian festival 😄 love from India 🇮🇳 keep it up 💜

[@BradAngove]

Thanks Barun

[@briansimpson8116]

Love that 335. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Love the kitten on your shirt. That's so sweet.😂😂😂😂

[@BradAngove]

The Kitten?

[@mjn55128]

Brad Angove ...Moose??

[@yosemitesam4549]

I have a file from fret guru and it works. I’d love to the StewMac file but not for that price. It would be different if I was a luthier...

[@BradAngove]

Yeah, that’s a tough one to shell out for.

[@LeviBulger]

Honestly, the Z file is definitely the easiest and mindless to use, but after getting used to the Guru dagger, it's just as good and I find it to be even faster.

[@charlie-obrien]

Stew Mac tools are made for Luthiers that are doing many jobs a week. If you are your own guitar tech doing an occasional guitar, there are always less expensive alternatives, as Brad has shown, you just need to work slow and always check as you go. If i didn't already have a file that I really like, I would make one of those homemade ones Brad showed. Why? Because I love simplicity and ingenuity.

[@richgh4905]

Wish i could afford a nice crowning file ,i use a small file kit i bought at lows

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

You are dropping this series as I'm preparing to a fretjob. This is really helpful I've checked the price of hosco one. Guess I'll be using wooden block on third refret in my life

[@GuitarNTabs]

Pay once, cry once - good fretting tools are essential, especially when refretting. DIY tools will get you far, no doubt, but if you plan on doing more than 1-2 refrets, then invest in the best.

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

@@GuitarNTabs oh, I know that it works that way. Simply now option pay is totally unavailable. I got all the fretting tools in my cart at Crimson since march. I'm just slowly losing hope that I'll be able to buy them in the next month or six :v

[@GuitarNTabs]

@@ArturBrzozowski444 - I see, and that's how it goes.. I hope you'll be able to get them soon! Stay well and have an excellent day.

[@meadish]

@@ArturBrzozowski444 Took me a few months to get there as well, then finally one day I had enough in the account to buy the essential fret leveling kit from Crimson without being evicted or my kid kicked out of school, so I pulled the trigger before thinking too long. Got them last week. It's a good set of tools.

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

@@meadishCongratulations! I bet they will serve you well! I hope that in 2021 I'll get mine too

[@rickcurtis2983]

Great demo and camera angle, thank you!! like 480!

[@BradAngove]

Thanks Rick

[@sccottheaston9902]

i love my z-file from stew mac

[@mikebrown7721]

Thanks Brad

[@stu-j]

The hosco is my got to file but its slow but good results. Great comparison video mate as always 👍

[@BradAngove]

The hosco uses a finer grit than many, so it doesn’t work as quickly.

[@ErnieLeblanc]

Outstanding Video Content!

[@BradAngove]

Thanks

[@poopascoopa3334]

Hey brad it’s, Tyler, ( your wife’s cousin from the Kennedy side) I have been watching your videos for awhile, and they seem really cool, even though I don’t know a word that your saying, anyways your probably not going to see this but I just wanted to say hi. See ya.

[@BradAngove]

I see pretty much every comment Tyler. Thanks for watching!

[@MarcusArmstrong037]

It seems like a good option would be to start with either the Solo or StewMac file, and then use the Crimson (or the homemade one) to clean up any small imperfections afterwords. All I have right now is Crimson's crowning file, so it is also doing double duty as a fret end dressing file. I know there are other files that work better for that, but it is nice to have one tool to do the entire job. Especially since I'm limited in how many tools I can afford to buy and store right now.

[@xklopan]

For many years I've just used a triangular file then sandpaper to mirror finish, I'm pretty good with the file but it takes do long so I just ordered a Z file from stewmac. I'd rather be playing my guitars than working on them so quicker the better on a fret level hence getting the Z file.

[@BradAngove]

That will definitely speed things up.

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

I'm surprised that that baroque fret file still works (someone was bound to say it)

[@BradAngove]

I don’t have a baroque. Are there durability issues with them?

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

@@BradAngove I know that you don't, you mention them at 4.28. It's an over used joke were baroque signifies broke, nothing more. I should have put 'lol' perhaps. Sorry for the confusion, I thought it obvious. 🙂

[@maricielagarcia8771]

great video but you should show super close ups and show how the file is suppose to leave the fret and how its not suppose to.. i have a stew mac diamond file original and i dont know if im using it right

[@BradAngove]

I think you’re overestimating the capabilities of my camera equipment haha.

[@b.cguitarcovers2347]

Great video man!, I'm actually looking for a cret frowning tool lol, as I'm going to be building my first guitar after christmas! What would you say is the grit on the 3 sided file?

[@GuitarNTabs]

600 grit on the Hosco 3 sided crowning file.

[@BradAngove]

The triangle file? Tough to say. It’s tougher than the diamond files, but it’s single cut so not too bad.

[@b.cguitarcovers2347]

@@BradAngove ok cool, thanks Brad🤘

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

My favorite is the DIY fretfile! What about fret polishing?

[@BradAngove]

We will get there haha.

[@chrisfit]

I have a super cheap orange handled one from Amazon that I hate. I just use a small flat file and roll it. If I did a lot I would definitely buy a good one though.

[@BradAngove]

Ya it saves a lot of time but if you’re only doing one or two it’s not really logical to buy a nice one.

[@meadish]

That Chinese orange handle so called crowning file was the first one I bought too, and I really wish I hadn't. They are absolute crap - mine made deep ugly gouges in the frets and took the tops off. It was such a disaster in the end I had to refret that neck. I made my own safe edge three corner file from a cheap set of diamond files (ground the sharp edges off with a rotary tool) and learned to use that. Works OK. But I still ended up buying the Crimson 3 corner file which I will use on my next few projects. Maybe will buy the Little Bone or the StewMac Z file later on.

[@chrisa933]

Excellent work dude, would you be able to do a marble effect with spray cans on a guitar plz , im wanting to do one myself in black with gold marble on my strat, but im unsure of the process , and if it can be done , was thinking black background , silver marble effect (put on with clear plastic wrap) and sprayed over with transparent gold. Im unsure if it will work, your help and input would really help. Thanks dude👍🎸

[@BradAngove]

Did you see me do the marble effect on the collaboration guitar I did with guns and guitars?

[@chrisa933]

@@BradAngove no sry. Ill look now, 👍

[@chrisa933]

@@BradAngove do u have a link? Really wanna try it out

[@BradAngove]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKHEnoSQa8R7l7c

[@BBGuitars]

The hosco file would be amazing if it were made so the deepest part of the cutting surface had no abrasive making it impossible to file beyond the height of the levelled fret....

[@GuitarNTabs]

That's part of the game with most "regular" concave crowning files, you have to be really careful, and constantly watch your progress. Marking the frets with a sharpie, is a good trick, but it's even better if you sight the crown of the frets - you will easily be able to tell how the crowning process is going, and how much more material you need to remove.

[@BradAngove]

Ya, that’s the beauty of the Z file. I would love to see a slightly curved version of that design.

[@BBGuitars]

@@BradAngove I ordered some hosco compact files anyway, been using the diy wood block for a while. While I like the diy block for the accuracy and ability to work the frets slowly Im just so over cutting tape and strips of sand paper. Have probably spent enough on double sided tape and paper to justify having proper files to begin with...

[@scraeling7310]

What about making rounded fret ends. like on an Ibanez guitar? Or Tools that are good to use with Stainless Steel frets, now that they are more available and affordable?

[@BradAngove]

You just file a round into them to do rounded ends. Avoid putting an angle in. There are no tools that are good for stainless that I know of. Just be prepared to burn through a tool when working on them.

[@scraeling7310]

Thank you!

[@AlteredAcoustics]

Thanks for the video. What would you say is the most versatile file between the Hosco and Stewmac? and what gives you the better finish? I do like the concept of the Stewmac but I feel the hosco would give me that instant round top.

[@BradAngove]

They’re similar in those categories. I don’t use files anymore for fret work really, but when I did I always preferred the stewmac option.

[@AlteredAcoustics]

@@BradAngove Thanks for the reply. What's your method currently?

[@BradAngove]

I have a tool I made that works with a particular type of sandpaper. I haven’t done a video on it yet.

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

I am wondering... Pine seems to have been used for guitarnecks. Only you put a walnut fretboard on and a trussrod? I just googled it and it said that pine was common as wood for guitarbuilding. Is that true? (Anyone can feel free to answer as usual) Big pat on the back to all guitarbuilders out there!

[@BradAngove]

Pine is common for bodies. Not so much for necks; it’s a bit soft for that. Usually maple is used for necks.

[@stephenstrings]

Another downside to hollow edge files is that they clog up and are tedious to clean. Three cornered files are easy to make by purchasing saw sharpening files and taking off just the last of the vertices. The Crimson file appears too round on the edge which limits getting to the last of the fret beside the fingerboard. When using a three corner file hold the guitar rigid so that the index finger is available to run the file against as a guide. Also extend the index finger of the file holding hand along the file as a guide to running straight. Make yourselves a hollow edge sanding block (3mm wide )around which the paper (600 &1000/1200 is perfectly adequate ) is wrapped. Don't piss about with paper wrapped on your fingers. Don't ever put fingerboards on a power buffer , it looks aweful.

[@globlogabgalab4278]

Hey brad i want to paint a guitar neck red will acrylic/graffiti cans do the job?

[@BradAngove]

They will, the durability just isn’t as good.

[@w.schanck5352]

Brad, did you ever roll the Z-file from side to side to get a more rounded shape on the fret?

[@BradAngove]

No, that would defeat the purpose somewhat by increasing the risk of removing the top.

[@rectifymaster]

@@BradAngove The original invention from 2011 slides on the fretboard to avoid tilting.

[@ryanbyrge7302]

I like the z file but never know when to stop. What is an acceptable width of the crown line?

[@BradAngove]

I like to get mine looking like the line was made be a pen. But that’s just my preference.

[@eternallearner8185]

Triangle file rules.

[@BradAngove]

I haven’t used a triangle file for this in ages haha. It’s an inexpensive option though, which is nice.

[@pops71]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention the clown car, or is that the secret weapon.

[@BradAngove]

Haha yeah that’s the secret weapon. Also, that’s probably going to be part of a video on a different way of fret crowning and polishing. I have a couple items in mind for that video.

[@toddknaster9731]

Like the video but the nut file you are using is same price as stew mac. Not saying one is better than the other, it’s just that you made the comment that you can’t afford the stew Mac file which implies that the one you are using is cheaper

[@BradAngove]

Fair enough. I don’t know how much this one cost; I didn’t pay for it. Sorry about that; I wasn’t trying to mislead.

[@foadrightnow5725]

Stew Mac is the hugely overpriced on EVERYTHING they sell. Don't get me wrong, more often than not, the quality is there. It would be cheaper to buy comparable tools off the SnapOn truck!

[@BradAngove]

Haha yeah, I never expected to find somewhere that charges more than snap on, but here we are.

[@jacksolomon451]

Absolutely agree they're high. But I factor in the quality and value from learning from their tutorials. If I were a pro I would undoubtedly shop more economical

[@foadrightnow5725]

@@jacksolomon451 - Are you saying that the "quality and value" of Stew Macs tutorials are what justify their exorbitant prices? There are literally tens of thousands of luthier related videos on the internet that are free. Some bad, but most are good. I think Stew Mac's business model is partly based on their assumption that their customers are going to be using their products in a for-profit endeavor and they want a piece of that assumed business paid for up front. What other legitimate reason could they possible have for charging prices that are higher than SnapOn? Any tool you can buy at Stew Mac you can buy from SnapOn for less! There are some exceptions, of course. More in the way of tool availability, not pricing!

[@jacksolomon451]

My dudes if you're Gumby status like me you're gonna want to mask the fretboard before you use the Sharpie I don't want to say why.

[@BradAngove]

Haha yeah, masking the board is always a good idea.

[@jacksolomon451]

@@BradAngove does sharpie come out of unfinished roasted maple? Asking for a friend

[@BradAngove]

Not easily. Might be able to take it out with acetone or scrape/sand.

[@BradHutchings]

Come on, man! Put a mask on your fretboard!

[@BradAngove]

What if I stay 6 feet away from it? Haha

[@gramursowanfaborden5820]

i hate those concave files, can't ever see what you're doing with them.

[@BradAngove]

Ya they require frequent checking for sure.

[@hkguitar1984]

Just an FYI, 99% of the time Isopropyl Alcohol will easily remove Permanent Marker.