New Magnum Build. Not Pointy :-)

[Skyjerk]

So, a mere few days from being able to wrap this guy up.

Tomorrow night I'll do the fretwork and clean up the fingerboard, and Saturday I'll sand and buff the top of the body and headstock, and put it all together.

At this point I have what I consider to be pretty solid process around most aspects of the builds (the way I do them)
but I still need some growth in the area of fretwork. I think my fretwork is pretty good, but I think it could be better.

I dont have a real process in place for this the way I do other aspects of building, and have tried various different things over the builds I've completed thus far.

Levelling and crowning, yes. I've got my process in place for this part. Pretty standard stuff.

Its the sanding and polishing I'm just not 100% there, and I havent yet come across a thread in here that really gets into how
you sand each fret, and more, how you make sure you remain consistent with each fret. I'm always worried I'll ruin my level taking more off tyhis fret than that one, etc. I end up counting each stroke and trying to keep the numbers the same.

Whats the nitty-gritty on how you guys get the sanding and polish done, specifically with stainless frets?

 

[BPW666]

So, a mere few days from being able to wrap this guy up.

Tomorrow night I'll do the fretwork and clean up the fingerboard, and Saturday I'll sand and buff the top of the body and headstock, and put it all together.

At this point I have what I consider to be pretty solid process around most aspects of the builds (the way I do them)
but I still need some growth in the area of fretwork. I think my fretwork is pretty good, but I think it could be better.

I dont have a real process in place for this the way I do other aspects of building, and have tried various different things over the builds I've completed thus far.

Levelling and crowning, yes. I've got my process in place for this part. Pretty standard stuff.

Its the sanding and polishing I'm just not 100% there, and I havent yet come across a thread in here that really gets into how
you sand each fret, and more, how you make sure you remain consistent with each fret. I'm always worried I'll ruin my level taking more off tyhis fret than that one, etc. I end up counting each stroke and trying to keep the numbers the same.

Whats the nitty-gritty on how you guys get the sanding and polish done, specifically with stainless frets?

Freddy's mammoth refret tutorial has a section on this

around 14.30min, I'd assum you've seen that already though?

 

[Skyjerk]

Freddy's mammoth refret tutorial has a section on this

around 14.30min, I'd assum you've seen that already though?

Maybe not.

If I did then it’s not registered in my memory . I’ll look again

 

[Skyjerk]

Freddy's mammoth refret tutorial has a section on this

around 14.30min, I'd assum you've seen that already though?

Somehow I missed ever seeing that. I do remember watching that tutorial 4 years ago, but perhaps I was just trying to push too much info into my brain all at once and that info fell out on the floor...

Thanks for the link!

I expect more time will be required given my frets are stainless, but the details of the process is exactly what I wanted

 

[valvetoneman]

I take it you're using a diamond file Chris

I find i use the diamond file, 3 corner file and dry paper then the wire wool, in that order

I also use a square eraser with paper wrapped over it and it forms nicely over frets, i concentrate on the sides mostly until I'm up to say 1200 or 1500 then I'll go over the tops too

 

[BPW666]

Glad to help, Freddy is using SS fretwire in that video so should be a straight port as far as process goes. I watch that while series of videos each time before i start a fret job, there's nothing like watching a pro go through the whole process.

 

[WhiteEpiLP]

We are very lucky that Freddy chooses to dole out his knowledge here free of charge. Too many people hoard their secrets thinking that they wont have a job if they give them away. Not Freddy, he is a true gentleman in this regard.

 

[Skyjerk]

Ok well I did my fret work last night. Followed the Freddy steps and got some really good results.

I did add one step, though. The tutorial finished with using super fine steel wool as the final step to get the bright polish, but I was not able to get a really high polish using the steel wool. They shined up, but not as much as I was expecting. Maybe I just didn't have at it for long enough, but I did take some real time on the first one and it was shiny, but not like mirror. This was 0000 steel wool, so it was pretty damn fine

So I completed the steel wool on every fret, and then used my dremel with a small buffing wheel and green jewels rouge (compound) and got the shine I was looking for.

The usual start

Used this fret end dressing file I got from Crimson Guitars. Good results. My technique needs some. polishing too, though

Finally sprung for the ubiquitous purple sharpie. Now I know why they are so common in the fret tutorials I've seen. I'd used black till now and the purple is just easier to see.

My fret ends look way nicer than my previous builds. I'm learning, but the overall polish and smoothness is absolutely superior to previous fret jobs. Previous were good, this one is better. I attribute this to the Freddy steps since I've always used the dremel step in the past. It was my steps leading up to that point that were lacking previously. The Freddy technique has filled in that part what was previously lacking

This guy is gonna have some smooth bending

Today is a down day. The last two years has apparently caused me to start grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw in my sleep. So hard that I've chipped several teeth and fractured the root on one of my molars, which of course developed an abscess.
Had the thing extracted this AM and now I'm enjoying the complete and utter lack of pain relief provided by that Wonder product called Tylenol.

That said, tomorrow I'm going to sand and buff the top and headstock, and Saturday will see this build completed

 

[WhiteEpiLP]

Ohhhh Shiny!

 

[charisjapan]

Chris, the frets look great! As expected, the fretboard is absolutely stunning ... can't wait to see your final glamour pics!!

 

[Skyjerk]

Chris, the frets look great! As expected, the fretboard is absolutely stunning ... can't wait to see your final glamour pics!!

Thank you sir

I can't wait either. I actually have to go to WORK today when all I want to do is call out sick and finish this baby up. Unfortunately I called out yesterday for the tooth extraction and don't want to push my luck, so I have to wait till tomorrow. Gahhhh!

 

[fatdaddypreacher]

well, you're probably wise to me by now....i've been keeping my eye on you, young man. i always love a satin finish on furniture, and rarely a gloss finish. on guitars, i always favor a gloss finish, but i gotta hand it to you, boss. you got me thinking satin somewhere down the line on one of my builds---if i can ever get back to building. also, that is one of your best fretboards, imo, and that's saying something, cause all of your work is stellar. i'd love to see that one in person.

 

[dcomiskey]

If you’re grinding at night, get a mouth guard. Both the wife and I have had them for years and they’re a life (tooth) saver.

 

[Skyjerk]

If you’re grinding at night, get a mouth guard. Both the wife and I have had them for years and they’re a life (tooth) saver.

I'm getting one. I didn't know I was grinding until I killed my tooth, but in retrospect I have pretty much every symptom. Dont feel like going through that again.

 

[Skyjerk]

Build done.

Just played it for an hour and I love it already

It's a bouncing baby Magnum, weighs in at exactly 8 lbs, 0 oz.

Pix tomorrow

 

[charisjapan]

 

[Skyjerk]

Done.

A lot of these pix seem to make it appear more orange than it really looks. The lighting isnt ideal. Still, I wanted to get some pix up

 

[BPW666]

Just stunning Chris! It's incredible that a man can just teach himself to make an instrument that rivals or exceeds the quality of one coming from the most high end manufacturers. This really gives me something to aspire to. Are we going to get any vid clips so we can hear how your grand creation sounds?

 

[Tonyd145]

Chris, You really nailed the finish on this one, easily rivals PRS for shear beauty. The whole build is awesome. Thanks for sharing your talent here.

 

[jkes01]

Spectacular!