How to Install Guitar Frets | My Current Process

[@djerdjelesh]

Nice video as always! One small detail that I'd like to mention, since you precut the frets to length (I do the same)... You'd better start from the end of the fretboard and go up, so if you accidentally cut a fret shorter than you'd like, you can use it a couple of slots up! ;)

[@homebuiltshop]

Good call. I have done that. I just started at the opposite end this time.

[@woodyg768]

Good observation,thanks.

[@9jmorrison]

Many home builds may not have tapered necks, but a good point

[@trigelvza]

I love your genuine enthusiasm in sharing your knowledge and techniques. An aspiring luthier from the Philippines here.. God bless you, bro.

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks so much. Keep up your hard work!

[@joshuaburke1700]

Dude, thanks. I have been trying all sorts of crazy methods without the proper tools and getting some atrocious results on this neck I just built...this was enlightening.

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful.

[@drvnlp6269]

I have a couple small arbor presses but for pressing frets I like using a drillpress. I don't want to press frets hard anyway and I like the way the caul swivels in the drill press making it easier to align it with the frets. I use c-clamps to attach a piece of plywood to the drill table large enough to support the neck or entire guitar. The drill press is already in place so no extra room required and height is perfect for viewing. I can pull up a stool or stand plus my drill press has a dedicated light. My drillpress is a small, cheap bench-top Harbor Freight model

[@gunsofsteele]

Which direction and what speed do you run your drill press at? 🤔

[@johneldredge5431]

Excellent presentation and tutorial-you gave me confidence to do my own frets! Great job, thank you for sharing this!

[@homebuiltshop]

Right on, you can do it!

[@1willywonker]

Your a craftsman so nice to watch👍

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks so much.

[@Fender5621]

Great detail with an excellent presentation. I have enough guitars that your setup if justified and perfect. Keeps the VIDs coming.

[@homebuiltshop]

Awesome! Thank you. 🎸

[@Iliveswithmom]

Fsq

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

Thank you so much for uploading this because I want to build my own guitars but the fretboard is the only part that’s giving me trouble.

[@homebuiltshop]

You can do it!

[@maicobotega7195]

Great way to installing fret's! Simple and efective! Thank's for share....

[@kenstrohmeyer5355]

Not interested in guitars but love watching your videos so I watch anyway! As far as your press at eye level why not just make a short stand to sit on your bench. Then you can just store it with your press!

[@homebuiltshop]

Yes! I think thats going to happen.

[@GuitarNTabs]

Excellent video - thank you! It would be really nice to see more content like this - focusing on guitars. How about a video on dressing the fret ends, followed by a fret level, re-crown and polish - that would be excellent! Cheers.

[@homebuiltshop]

I was thinking about a fret level video. I believe I'll do one.

[@GuitarNTabs]

@@homebuiltshop - Thanks for the reply! Yeeah, that would be excellent, thank you! Keep up the good work! Have a wonderful december! Cheers.

[@xisotopex]

we use something similar to the fret wire bender during neurosurgery for bending titanium rods

[@crackerjack3359]

Interesting. I have been thinking about a press but get good results just hammering them in. I think an improvement to my process will be to lightly hammer in each fret and then cut it to length. Repeat for each fret and the use the press on all frets one after the other.

[@homebuiltshop]

I really like having the press. I think your idea is a really good one. Tap, Cut, Press.

[@stevetozzi673]

This video was crazy helpful, thanks for all of the effort on it!

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks, I'm glad to be able to help out.

[@davidmoss7245]

Fantastic video and presentation.A quick question for anybody…Is it 100% necessary to have the frets pre curved to the fingerboard radius or will it be ok to use the fret press if it’s “near enough curved”? Thanks guitar lovers 😊🎸

[@scottmichael3745]

I made my own fret press out of scrap wood. Its a leaver with the pivot point at one end. Than there are 3 holes from there spaced 3", 4", and 5". Then the 3 foot handle goes out from there. The pivot point is attached to a 6" tall end pivot that has a 1 foot square base. I can put my press "foot" at the 3, 4, or 5" mark to increase or decrease the pressure i need to set the fret in the neck. Cost me nothing but an hour of my time. Been using it for 6 years now. Maybe i should make a video on it. 🤔

[@johnvcougar]

Nice presentation, mate! Now to buy some tools!

[@andyhornseth5069]

love your videos. building a guitar in shop class. extremely helpful

[@gunsofsteele]

To see at eye level just buy a milking stool. 😎 Thanks for the lesson! Nice job!

[@truth-ig2um]

love your videos,awsome!!!

[@homebuiltshop]

Thank you!

[@binnsbrian]

Have thought about building a box the same size as the fret press to lift it up as a stand? It could be open at the front to house your fret organizer and cutter etc when not in use.

[@homebuiltshop]

I might have to do something like this. It would make it more comfortable for sure.

[@ivanlitvinov9917]

Thank you for such clear and detailed explanation!

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@titobalkani8240]

Great vid! Your channel is one of my all time favs, so helpful man. I'm still searching for an alternative to fret wire...maybe it's time to just order some lol. Peace homezzz✌🏽

[@homebuiltshop]

Thank you. I still haven't really thought of anything either. 👍

[@mikewaggoner4016]

Gittler guitars are all Titanium-no fret wire at all, lasts FOREVER

[@daveholliday3082]

thanks for taking the time, great detail.

[@9jmorrison]

Love your modifications!

[@craigvaneck3599]

Thank you for your video.

[@homebuiltshop]

You are welcome

[@jbuell311]

Great video, thanks! Definitely going to use a lot of these techniques.

[@c0nga]

can you make (or add the video if I can't find it) a video detailing how to slot the fretboard?

[@rolandosoto4545]

I’d like to see how you placed the sheet with spring.

[@woodyg768]

And Btw,thank you for sharing this technique.

[@mikebob7184]

Hi Jeff, I looked all through the comments section and cannot find where to buy the collar and spring!!! Help an old fella out... Take Care, Glenn

[@1willywonker]

This is amazing thankyou👍🎸

[@marcosrobertsonofficial]

This is a good video man!

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks my friend!

[@erthrashmine3449]

Nice video. Does the compound radius need different inserts on the press station?

[@woodyg768]

I'm considering trying this,you make it look easy,I just can afford the cost of having it done.

[@homebuiltshop]

You can do it!

[@carlosprex]

Hi, nice video, I´ve just suscribed. Can you please tell the size and inside diameter of the shaft collar, size/caliber/diameter/lenght/material/use of that spring in order to find one exactly like that one?? That´s exactly what I had in mind but was not sure how to do it. That blue clamps used to fix the arbor press too please. I´m asking you to share this info since it´s not easy to me look for that items, so If you could help with a link or detailed info of the shaft collar and spring I´ll be highly grateful. Thanks in advance

[@crystalacofficial]

Great work.

[@carmelopolizzi8079]

great video

[@edhampton415]

Are you going to do a video on shaping the neck?

[@maicobotega7195]

UP!

[@homebuiltshop]

Not for this neck, but I'll do one for sure.

[@jaygraham5554]

Question: can frets be pressed in the fretboard before the fretboard is glued to the neck ?

[@tomjoad6993]

3:57 If the fret end nippers cut flush, why not just clip the other side as well instead of sanding it flush to the fretboard?

[@homebuiltshop]

I like to leave them a little long and sand them flush. For some reason I don't like to get the nippers that close to the fretboard. I feel like I could somehow pull the fret out when trimming them off. I have never had that happen and don't think it ever would but its a weird thing in my head. Lol.

[@erthrashmine3449]

Is this necessery to leave a little gap in the center of the wires between frets when pressing?

[@woodyg768]

Well my fears of refretting my sg have left. While I was pulling the the threaded bridge studs from the body for replacement,the lower section of the guitar completely separated,fell off,hahaha.......crap! Oh well, what are ya gonna do.God bless.

[@homebuiltshop]

Oh no. I guess you get the opportunity to make yourself a new body. Go for it.

[@woodyg768]

@@homebuiltshop yeah,it had been completely bare of any paint or finish of any kind for so many years,I'm guessing that may have contributed to the glue fail,and wood separation.i really wanted an sg,but I'm not too confident that a diy kit would play anywhere near as good as an authentic Gibson.

[@titobalkani8240]

Just wondering, do you have a favorite body/headstock shape?

[@homebuiltshop]

Besides my own ive always liked the Tele, the Ibanez RGs and PRS.

[@travelingman9763]

Do you use glue? Subscribed

[@andyfarmer759]

Would it be worth building a small crate to position under your arbor press on the bench, as a temporary measure, to resolve your eyeline issue? Maybe a few finger holes in it for clamping purposes.

[@homebuiltshop]

That's a great idea. Maybe the press can be secured to the top then the whole thing clamped down. Thank you for that idea. 👍

[@andyfarmer759]

@@homebuiltshop glad to be of help. Nothing worse thanbending over your work and getting backache.

[@thelegendaryegg7831]

Is it possible to gently hammer frets in place rather than use a press?

[@homebuiltshop]

Absolutely. A brass hammer will work great. Make sure its not a steel hammer. It needs to be softer than the fret material so as not to damage the fret.

[@heehonk946]

Hey, man. How did you get those fret slots to be the exact size as your frets? Let me know. Thanks.

[@crazyrees23]

Has anyone used a drill press instead of a arbor press?

[@flyingash]

How do you get a return spring for the press?

[@joeking433]

What was the comedian's name who this guy reminds me of? Chris somebody, I think.

[@homebuiltshop]

Chris Elliott. Lol.

[@gaetanobarbone7932]

Hi Gentleman, please, tell me which is generally the size in mm that you use to re-fret an acoustic guitar. Best regards.

[@Horner181]

It looks like you need a new fret board but regardless awesome job

[@carlosprex]

Can anyone help me? What type of spring is that? I cannot find anything similar to use in mine.

[@TonecrafteLuthiery]

I believe the search term you were looking for was “heavy duty compression springs”. Sorry I’m so late. I figure you can probably just measure your arbor to determine a suitable inner diameter for the spring and cut it down to size with an angle grinder or something. Hope this info isn’t to late to be helpful.

[@crazyrees23]

Has anybody tried a drill press? I see drill press attachments on Amazon.

[@americosouza6199]

perfeito show

[@javanthomas4122]

What else can you use to bend frett wire.

[@homebuiltshop]

You can bend it by hand if youre careful. If you hold the tang with some pliers. Ive bent it by carefully pressing it on the end of a bench. Its not perfect but it can be done.

[@javanthomas4122]

@@homebuiltshop thanks for getting back to me

[@FredMcIntyre]

😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@giovannipetitti1588]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯👏👏👏👏❤️

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks Giovanni!

[@digitalcounterpartskrishna1247]

🙏👌👌🌹💞🌹👌👌🙏🎸❤️🎸

[@Bazerkly]

Start with removing the old frets!!!!! 🤔

[@homebuiltshop]

This was a new neck build so I didn't have any frets to remove. I don't do much refretting.