Clarity Ep 19 - Installing the Frets

In this episode, Ben installs the frets.

This Video series with Ben Crowe at Crimson Guitars in the UK

Please note that this series was filmed in 2013 when Ben was still working out of a shed at the bottom of his garden. This means that some of Ben's techniques and opinions have since changed, however, much of the content is still relevant so we hope that you will benefit from this series and the updated links.
Thank you for watching.
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Thank you again for all your support, we really, really appreciate it! – Ben
Stay tuned and stay awesome! ____________________________________________________________________

[fernbobbio]

Ah, coffee and the weekly Clarity video. What´s better than that?

[williamjones]

I used a small polished brass hammer for this with not as much force. Then I used a small block (bakelite) which I made with a radius cut out of it to exactly match the fret board radius with a shallow groove in it to accommodate the fret.The sides were chamfered away so the corners of the block would not touch the fret board when pressed in using a normal vice. The results were very good. A solution for those of us who are unable to afford a press.

[ArielsSmartyPants]

Tons of videos showing luthiers putting in frets with hammers, though I'd more than likely use something soft like a brass hammer.

[CIRCLEOFTONE]

Great vid. What glue do you use these days? What is available at home depot in the USA that I can use?

[ciri]

Don't you damage the frets with the hammer?
It's also pretty painful to watch :/

[Disco]

I've noticed many complaints, and alternative suggestions for your methods. Because I lack your skills and knowledge, I will simply ask (choosing to learn versus criticize), why a steel hammer instead of brass, plastic or a wooden mallet, or a press?

[XavPaice]

Have you tried (prior to having specialist tools for the job) making a quick and dirty fret press out of hardish timber and whacking that with the hammer? Didn't work too well for me but I'm a total amateur.

[MontyDodge]

Oh Ben btw.. have you taken a look at the way Ernie Balls cuts their frets, I'm sure you'll find it interesting.

[XavPaice]

phew, I just fretted up a bass using that exact method, just before you posted the vid. But without the confidence, this is only my second build. Now at least I know I didn't stuff it up too bad, but I did use a different glue. To those whining about metal hammers, I used soft fret wire, the hammer left marks and I wasn't hitting it as hard as the master here, but by the time I had levelled the frets, crowned, and polished, they look great. Thanks for the video, wish I had seen it one day earlier :)

[johnnypk]

The Vicker scale of hardness rates nickel/silver frets at 170. EVO frets at 250. Stainless steel frets at 300.

[deano-uvdr]

Professional slamming in new frets with a metal hammer, not good.

[killerjurgis]

Water on fretboard? oO I know it's ebony, so not absorbing, but you have glued some walnut on the sides... I would never risk myself in such situation :D

[JBENNETTR]

Hi. Love the vids. Really hope to acquire the wealth to commission a build from you one day. My question is, are there no concerns that the use of glue will produce difficulties when the instrument eventually requires a re-fret?

[wombat]

is it possible to cause a crack in the fretboard or in the neck by hammering the frets in too hard ?

[infectionsman]

Just a heads up i have damaged frets by using a metal hammer before. I
was repairing an acoustic and did the same procedure, except for using
CA glue and regular nickel frets. It dented the tops really bad at some places.

[LeeCarmichael]

This is painful to watch for so so so many reasons.

[PrefoX]

you damaged some frets with the hammer, u can see it at the last fret... maybe u use some wood between. I as a customer, would throw that away.

[howlingmine]

If I ever caught my luthier hammering in frets on one of my guitars, he'd never see another dollar of my money. They make fret presses for a reason.