Dented frets

[Paul C]

I guitar I built for a friend has been played a lot and some of the frets are dented flat in e few spots. Not sure the best way to go about repairing them any input would be well appreciated.

[John Parchem]

Level and re-crown the frets. This is normal wear and tear. I use one of the long on of these https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... elers.html with sandpaper on the narrow edge. Even though it is flat it is appropriate for radiused frets. I sand the frets roughly following the string paths (I do this even on a new fret job). There are many fret crowning tools.

[peter havriluk]

Anything wrong with using a metal level and sticky sandpaper? Or a sanding bar from a model airplane supplier?

[John Link]

If you seek dead flat frets after the instrument is strung up, the Stew Mac long thingy might not be the answer, unless you use it in conjunction with their neck jig or something equivalent. As the video says, the 8 inch is the most useful.

They also claim the side is precision ground and I believe them. But I wonder if you folks think that is of any benefit, compare to the side of a level.

[John Parchem]

Anything wrong with using a metal level and sticky sandpaper? Or a sanding bar from a model airplane supplier?

I agree the side of a level or the flat bar is probably fine.

John, good point on the length of the level. I will give it a try with a shorter length tool. While sanding I have watched the amount I am taking off the frets and have adjusted where I apply pressure to the tool. Now I see how I may have been compensating for too long of a tool

Now, I do level the frets unstrung with the truss rod in neutral and the longer tool. When I do this I have found in my guitars that the string tension gives me a the relief I am looking for.

[Paul C]

So when sanding would I need to sand the fret down to the low spot where the dent is?.

[John Parchem]

So when sanding would I need to sand the fret down to the low spot where the dent is?.

Yes evenly sand all the frets until the divot is sanded out. Another option if the the divots are in just first few frets is to replace those frets and level them to the rest of the frets.