What's on your work bench?

[Jay]

Never played one... gonna be fun...

[bobiron]

They are fun, had on many years ago in my folk music playing days.

[Single coil]

A dusty entry level acoustic with a very clean fretboard.
It’ll stay that way until my bones knit.

[null_pointer]

You’re not using a euphemism for your bed then I take it...

[Single coil]

[Jay]

I did not dare to include my workbench in the photo... The mandolin is entry level as well I think. Whatever it was, it was phucked with the loose bracing. It is closed up again and now tidying up and all that. Hopefully I can play "When I'm dead and gone" on it this coming weekend.

Anyone know that song by McGuinness Flint?

[Jay]

Lowest frets I'd ever come across so was on the work bench this weekend (and on the kitchen table as well)

Not prepared to buy Stewmac tools for something that can be done with some careful planning and execution

Also put a stainless steel zero fret in.

[GrantB]

What be this clamp-contraption fine Sir?

[Jay]

What be this clamp-contraption fine Sir?

I wanted the neck to be as straight as possible prior to leveling the frets so I wouldn't remove too much of the precious fret material. Even with the truss rod nut fully loose, the neck wasn't straight enough to my liking. So I put a sack of duck food on the body (which I did not want to show) and then the clamps tighten the neck back ever so slightly to create a nice straight neck. The green felt neck support thingy is placed such that the maximum straightness is achieved.

Why buy the Stewmac version if you can do the same thing with a dinner table, clamps and some feeler gauges?

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... ation.html

[GrantB]

clamp-traptionl

Ah yes, of course. I had jumped ahead and thought you had refretted, and then, maybe because the neck was then over-bowed, had to create a "fake" string pressure. So....same thing basically. Well done on the tool! A neck jig to emulate pressure is on my to-do list. I do it currently by using zip ties (for downward) or like you, weight on headstock for upward. I would love a StewMac neck jig!

Again, well done!

[Jay]

clamp-tractionl

Ah yes, of course. I had jumped ahead and thought you had refretted, and then, maybe because the neck was then over-bowed, had to create a "fake" string pressure. So....same thing basically. Well done on the tool! A neck jig to emulate pressure is on my to-do list. I do it currently by using zip ties (for downward) or like you, weight on headstock for upward. I would love a StewMac neck jig!

Again, well done!

Thanks. Yea that tool would be really good to have but for that money you can but a nice acoustic...

The photo may not show it easily but a full refret was just done. I then marked the fret crowns black with the sharpie ready for leveling.
Came out really well and this 47 year oldy can now do a few more years.

[GrantB]

and this 47 year oldy can now do a few more years.

I'd have said you were only 46!

[Molly]

I see Gibson have a jig to emulate string tension as part of the PLEK set up. Clever all that malarkey.

[GrantB]

Why buy the Stewmac version if you can do the same thing with a dinner table, clamps and some feeler gauges?

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... ation.html

I just had another look at this. If the neck is returned to the strung up position and one removes the frets, how is the new fret tang width expansion dealt with? Proper slotting goes a long way in that regard, but still...it remains a question. What do you think jvpp?

[Jay]

Why buy the Stewmac version if you can do the same thing with a dinner table, clamps and some feeler gauges?

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... ation.html

I just had another look at this. If the neck is returned to the strung up position and one removes the frets, how is the new fret tang width expansion dealt with? Proper slotting goes a long way in that regard, but still...it remains a question. What do you think jvpp?

I thought exactly the same when I read the tool's description... then I watched the video and have come to the conclusion that either I don't understand the description or it is wrong as in the video he is using the tool to create a perfectly straight neck in preparation for fret leveling. I am referring to the first paragraph: "A revolution in fretwork
Dan Erlewine developed the Neck Jig using the breakthrough idea of simulating string tension with the strings off. This results in the most accurate fret and fingerboard work ever: no guesswork, and no unpleasant surprises when the instrument is restrung. " Maybe the marketing guy has never refretted a guitar?

In short, I would not use that tool for pure refretting as IMO it is superfluous for that (for exactly the reason you pointed out). I try to avoid going up in tang width size for fear of backbow but it may be a solution to correct a severely 'concaved' neck. But yes, the tool is ideal for fret leveling and action setting through its superior micro adjustments and tilting.