Oversized fret slot and frets to fit them

Wood type -- slotting -- contouring -- fret installation
Post Reply
banjopicks
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 7:02 am

Oversized fret slot and frets to fit them

Post by banjopicks » Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:06 pm

I just finished fretting my fretboard that I cut using the SM circular saw blade and for some reason that I will figure out and fix, the frets just dropped in so I had to glue them in. Could I have bought oversized fret wire somewhere? Just in case it ever happens again. :lol:

bftobin
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2019 1:18 pm

Re: Oversized fret slot and frets to fit them

Post by bftobin » Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:02 pm

If you bought your fretwire from Jescar, you may have bought narrow tang wire. I believe they have Martin style fretwire starting with a 0.019 tang and your saw blade is 0.022 or 0.023. I remember some people were cutting wide slots and bedding the frets in West System epoxy at one time.

Brent

banjopicks
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 7:02 am

Re: Oversized fret slot and frets to fit them

Post by banjopicks » Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:57 pm

I think I got it from SM but I'll measure the tang when I get home. Thanks

John Parchem
Posts: 2678
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:33 pm
Location: Seattle
Contact:

Re: Oversized fret slot and frets to fit them

Post by John Parchem » Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:24 pm

If the frets are the right size your blade might be wobbling a touch. Are you using a stiffener?

banjopicks
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 7:02 am

Re: Oversized fret slot and frets to fit them

Post by banjopicks » Wed Oct 06, 2021 5:13 pm

I forgot to do that. I don't use stiffeners as the sm blade is standard thickness, 1/8" ground down about 1/2" to tang thickness. It shouldn't need any stiffeners in my opinion.

peter havriluk
Posts: 958
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: Granby, CT

Re: Oversized fret slot and frets to fit them

Post by peter havriluk » Wed Oct 06, 2021 6:11 pm

No harm in testing the blade's performance with a stiffener. Fingerboards ain't cheap.
Peter Havriluk

banjopicks
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 7:02 am

Re: Oversized fret slot and frets to fit them

Post by banjopicks » Wed Oct 06, 2021 7:29 pm

I'll look into getting some.

Post Reply