How To Make A Really Simple Fret Bending Jig

[@JonDeth]

*Great design reference for building my own.* I've never done a full fret job but I've replaced about a dozen and while bending it by hand worked perfectly fine, prebending it with a jig is highly preferable. I remember my first and how I trimmed the tang unsure if it would actually hold. This was about 14 years ago so since then, I discovered trimming the tangs is a common and standard practice.

[@robertshorthill6836]

John, my Brit brother, I love that Cockney accent. I worked with a lady from Nashville, TN and she did her level best to imitate that accent and told jokes that had us all laughing our you know whats off. Cheers, Bob in Montana, USA

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks Bob! 😁

[@RDavis-ic3zr]

This is awesome. I watched this video, and it took me less time to build it than watch the video. Thank you so much! I even had the bearings left over from when that spinner craze was going around, and I was building them for the kids.

[@JohnClothier]

Thats great to hear! Yes its a nice quick project and easy to do.

[@wrap-itsolutions2387]

I was just looking at some old bearings from my kids scooters thinking "I could make a fret bending jig out of those" .... great tutorial !!

[@JohnClothier]

Lol. Thanks buddy. The hardest bit of the project is finding a way to stop the bearings adjusting or you end up with a radius you don’t want

[@ThatGuyThanus]

Going to make one of these! Thanks for the video!

[@JohnClothier]

glad you found it useful

[@gworxtaiwan402]

This bloke has indeed changed my life. The Super Glue Trick! BTW, (edit) The groove between the bearings will help keep the wire from drifting. I am definitely going to copy this one. Cheers!

[@JohnClothier]

Its good isnt it

[@andreapoliti3110]

I think Stewart.MacDonald will love you after seeing that the tool you built costs 12 times less than his! Good boy!

[@JohnClothier]

Andrea Politi lol probably cost even less than that

[@codyjohnson7841]

THIS. Hahaha yes!

[@morarok]

Excellent! Just what I needed. greetings from Argentina!

[@andrewdarnley4608]

Thanks for the best explanation of a fret bending jig I've seen. StewMac want $230 AUD before shipping cost ! Granted it's out of plate aluminium with some finer adjustment parts etc but for the occasional builder yours is extremely more affordable.

[@JohnClothier]

Thank you for the comment. Really appreciate it

[@gsuderman]

Einstein once said he "looks for the simplest solution. No simpler." Mate, this post is incredible in its simplicity and its instruction. Many thanks for providing this tutorial.

[@dancreegan3962]

Great video John. Thanks for this.

[@stevengomes4769]

Nice little tool for radiating fret wire but demonstrating on already radiused wire? Just brilliant!

[@JohnClothier]

Yes it is. Just because the wire is curved doesnt mean it is at the right curve. You still need to apply the correct radius and this is what I was showing

[@tater210]

Great job,John!

[@anonymousanonymous3073]

Awesome! Just what I was after. You just saved me $100. Cheers mate

[@JohnClothier]

Awesome! Glad to help!

[@jukka9333]

Great and helpful video, thanks for sharing!

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks. Glad you liked it

[@jukka9333]

@@JohnClothier I already made mine with your instructions, thanks!

[@JimDockrellWatertone]

Nice little build John! Thanks

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks Jim.

[@100roberthenry]

cool, it would be nice to add some kind of gauge on the slot for different radius's....other than that, genius. cheers man.

[@RobMods]

Nice video. I made a jig that mounts on my vice. This way I can adjust the radius by adjusting the jaw gap.

[@JohnClothier]

Thank you. Great idea!

[@RobMods]

@@JohnClothier Thanks mate. FWIW, I have a video about it on my channel. I got the idea from seeing another youtuber (Pask Makes) building a knurling jig on his vice...

[@MegaManir]

LIKED IT VERY MUCH! THANKS!

[@JohnClothier]

Thank you

[@Argentuza]

How can you bend pre cut frets? I'm struggling with this!

[@ObiWanAugus]

Great video. Thanks a lot.

[@JohnClothier]

Glad you like it!

[@Sigtrygg_Gale.]

Thanks for the vid, just what I was looking for 👍

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks. I'm glad you found it of interest

[@timlittle1083]

Love it.

[@mikeg3660]

Very cool...thanks!

[@JohnClothier]

Glad you liked it

[@RobertHudsonGuitarist]

How do you work out the correct radius? Or do you just do it by sight?

[@JohnClothier]

I did it by trial and error comparing to the fret board

[@PaulLockwood]

Lots of interesting tips there John. Hadn't heard of the tape / glue tip. Life changing? not quite but certainly something well to remember. The bit I love is the money saving and especially on something from scraps and quick to make.

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks Paul. May not change your life but certainly changes your outlook on holding work. Ive used it for so many things since I discovered it

[@jesuschrist736]

I looooove you!!!! kisses from Greece...

[@bobbymalta73]

Thank You.

[@timayris3375]

this is really cool, well done! Just wondering, could you have small diameter washer, say 1mm thick, between the bearings on the adjustable roller thereby creating a gap for the tang of the fret wire?

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks Tim. There is a slight gap already as the edges of the bearings are rounded off. A small washer may well be a worthwhile addition.

[@MrSongwriter2]

I found it is best without the washer and only using one bearing in all 3 locations as the use of a washer caused the barbs to get shaved slightly and similar with two bearings. I buy precut hosco fretwire as I can get it the easiest in the U.K next day from amazon and it’s just enough to do a guitar. I have to push through the bender using thin nose pliers to hold the end to start the push. It is much easier with big lengths. I was hoping someone would list the groved pulley used in commercial ones as it’s bound to be used for something else like wardrobe sliding doors or something

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@MOHANMSHARMA]

Great tutorial, but there is any way to determine or set the desired radius by this arrangement??

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks. Thanks only by trying it. I don’t think even the commercial ones do that

[@MOHANMSHARMA]

@@JohnClothier I also think so, I will also make it for my build. But see, how commercial man make the guitar building so expensive and fancy, thanks for sharing your ideas, it's a great help to community.

[@gunsofsteele]

Cut the board where the top of the 2 bottom bearings are a minimum 16" from bottom of board. Use a pencil & mark around these bearings. Use a nail, thin guitar string & pencil to swing the string & mark the radii 16" 12" 10" 9.5" 7.5" & more. Then groove the marks with a ball point pen. This marks where the bottom of the adjustable bearing should be or close enough. 😎

[@jonos138]

What about straightening the fret wire? Can this be used for that? I've seen some fret benders that do both.

[@JohnClothier]

In theory it could by putting the wire in upside. How straight you would get it though is up for debate

[@WoodyWood]

Reminds me of the Pyramids rolls we used at work to bend steel

[@JohnClothier]

Yep basically the same principle

[@sidneidossantos923]

muito bom !

[@jonnywright2210]

John. Nice wee jig there. Could it be adapted to bend steel ski edges? Inserting washers between the bearings?

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks. I can’t see why not

[@glennmoreland6457]

Simple design of section rollers...🇬🇧👍

[@JohnClothier]

Yep no need for anything complicated for my purposes

[@olegs5835]

Я. верхний подшипник заменил на две шайбы и на болт ручку, короткие лады попросче править.thanks

[@rosalindacaseley6996]

Can you do a fret slotting jig please???

[@JohnClothier]

I already did. You can find it on my channel

[@rosalindacaseley6996]

@@JohnClothier found it! Cheers!

[@JohnClothier]

Glad to help

[@tedrowland7800]

Very nice. My price at Stew Mac, (being a club member), is $157.00 plus tax. Another luthier told me, if you're going to build guitars/luthier, you are going to "HAVE TO" build tools and jigs. I have a lot of plastic around, and will make one from that. Thank you so much.

[@Jkkaalers]

works with stainless steel fret wire?

[@JohnClothier]

I've not tried so I don't know, sorry

[@erwinerwin1245]

Great video. I was a bit confused with all of the taping at the beginning, and did not see why one had to do that . I would have just cut out the slot on a board and then put in the bearings as in your last half of the video. .

[@JohnClothier]

I was trying for accuracy so wanted to use the router. The wood was an awkward size to clamp so I used tape and glue.

[@WoodenItBeNice]

Hi John, Brilliant!!! A simple version of the English Wheel for a specific purpose. Really looking forward to the guitar build, even though I don't play the instrument. Cheers, Huw. PS This is my new channel and I have just uploaded my first video. Would love your comments on how to improve. Huw

[@JohnClothier]

Indeed buddy. Just visited your channel, like what I see.

[@matthewstirling8959]

Hi John, Where did you source the skateboard bearings (with a 10mm hole) for this jig? I'm in the UK..

[@JohnClothier]

Hey. I got them from Amazon

[@sparrowhawk81]

@@JohnClothier Oh? Not just lying around?

[@JohnClothier]

They weren’t purchased for this project but for another one. These were left over from that hence them lying around. Originally they were bought from amazon

[@bernardfutter5327]

Thanks, John. I'm wondering whether this could be adapted for steam bending the compound radii on spoon handles. I'm having difficulty getting the ladle handle right for a Marmite that I turned. A simple press pattern in the vice hasn't worked with cherry. Did you avoid using double sided tape because it can be messy? Bernard.

[@JohnClothier]

Yes I think it could. At least putting wood between rollers should work. Double sided tape has 2 issues. Its expensive and it's a nightmare to clean up. They are my main reasons for using the superglue and masking tape method.

[@gworxtaiwan402]

Cherry... Not great for bending if kiln dried (as the wooden boat forum gents informed me) but between stainless steel sheeting I bet you'd get good results with John's set-up. Slow and steady thru the rollers and into a form til cool would be my approach.

[@bernardfutter5327]

@@gworxtaiwan402 Many thanks for that, GworX. I plan to try again shortly, when I can steam in the garden, away from the workshop. The cherry I cut down in 2006, and naturally air dried, and sliced 2.5mm thick. The marmite was turned from the same tree. However, I also have ash and elm, which I have read are good for steaming, though originally I wanted the project to be all in one wood. Bernard.

[@jackbrew1]

Great tutorial! How do you set the correct radius for your frets?

[@erwinerwin1245]

Trial and error . Try a bend and then see how that looks on your neck, and then maybe need more bend or less. If you have a radius gauge then it is even easier than that. Even the real expensive store bought ones is trial and error. None have like a dial where one can dial in a certain radius.

[@JohnClothier]

As Erwin says above.

[@alanmullock381]

Son:"Going to play out for an hour dad!"! Dad:"Sorry son,the bearing fairies have been at your skates again!"😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@JohnClothier]

Lol love it!!

[@andreapoliti3110]

:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@meowwoem6372]

my mate did something similar with mecano.

[@JohnClothier]

That sounds cool!

[@meowwoem6372]

@@JohnClothier he built it to curve mecano parts for custom built models for people. it'd be easy to use it for bending fret wire. I forgot to add. it also has a handle you turn to draw the part through.

[@fartwrangler]

Why am I suddenly gettin a 5-second PSA at the beginning of every video?

[@JohnClothier]

Pass

[@VadimLyutiy]

John Cluthier

[@choimdachoim9491]

$160 in America !

[@JohnClothier]

Should save you a bit then

[@emcdvz5648]

Im worried about ur gasping man

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks for your concern buddy! I do have breathing problems and I do find it a struggle to talk a lot. Working on it and trying to get better. It's a been a long journey with the drs but im getting there

[@emcdvz5648]

I have a congenital heart disease but I'm good at breathing try to drink lemon juice every morning make it a coffee habit. You'll notice that its improve your heavy chest at least 3weeks

[@JohnClothier]

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try

[@sparrowhawk81]

Hey no problem. Who doesn't have skateboard bearings lying around? What? 99.99999% of people? Oh....well, whatever.

[@JohnClothier]

The idea is to show a concept and for you to improvise with what you have. If you don't have them then buy some from ebay or amazon. I think 99.99999% of people would get that