If you notice burn marks on your wood, your blade is dull, or you are running the saw at too high a speed. Reduce the saw speed or change to a fresh blade.
A rattling sound from the string vibrating against a higher fret. The Fix: Buzz is almost always caused by high or uneven frets. This is what the entire fret dressing process is designed to fix. However, a single high fret can often be fixed without a full leveling.
Start with 400-grit paper, then move up through 600, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000-grit. Wrap the paper around a small, flexible foam block or eraser. 2. Final Polish: Use a polishing compound (like steel wool or Micro-Mesh pads) to bring the frets to a mirror-like shine. 3. Remove Tape: Carefully remove the masking tape. Final Steps: Setup and Setup Once the frets are polished: Re-oil the fretboard (if rosewood/ebony). Restring the guitar. Adjust the truss rod back to your preferred relief. Set the action at the bridge. Summary Checklist (PDF Version) Remove strings & clean fretboard. Tape fretboard & straighten neck. Identify high frets with rocker. Level frets until marker is gone. Crown frets to a rounded profile. Polish frets from 400 to 2000+ grit. Restring & setup.
Use a fret rocker to check for high spots. Step 3: Crowning the Frets fret work step-by-step pdf
Let the blade do the work. Apply gentle forward pressure with both hands safely flanking the blade path. Forcing the wood too quickly will deflect the blade, causing angled cuts or breakage. 6. Sanding, Removal, and Finishing
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TUTORIAL - Basic fret level, crown & polish made easy (picture heavy) If you notice burn marks on your wood,
This is where patience and care pay off. Cut strips of low-tack masking tape and meticulously apply them to the fingerboard between each fret. The tape should cover the entire fingerboard, leaving only the metal fret itself exposed. This protects the wood from any accidental file or sandpaper marks. Don't forget to mask the top of the guitar's body as well, to protect the finish from errant filings.
Apply a layer of blue painter's tape directly to the surface of the wood. This protects the wood from adhesive residue and makes pattern removal easy.
Leveling normalizes the height of all frets so they sit on a single plane. : Use a Sharpie to mark the top of every fret. The Fix: Buzz is almost always caused by
The difference between "repaired" and "professional."
Use a straightedge or sight down the neck. Adjust the truss rod until the fretboard is as straight as possible.
What are you planning to make (e.g., a clock, a wall panel, jewelry)? What saw type do you currently own or plan to use?
When you reach a sharp corner, do not force the blade to turn on a dime. Instead, spin the wood slowly in place while keeping the blade moving, or back the blade out of the cut, turn around in the entry hole, and approach the corner from the opposite direction. Step 4: Maintaining Feed Pressure