UNIQUE DESIGN - QUICK, EASY & FOOLPROOF
Crowns the frets and polishes the sides in one easy action.
Double safeguards against filing the fret tops.
Features precision concave pressure faces.
Uses low cost 25mm wide emery abrasive roll.
The tool also dresses burrs from fret end bevelling.
The tool utilises opposing abrasive strips. When positioned over the fret, the abrasive is spread apart by the fret shoulders creating a small void directly over the fret top. This ensures that the abrasive does not contact the apex of the fret. In addition, the working faces are separated by a gap and pressure is only applied to the fret shoulders further safeguarding against filing down the fret tops.
The system is quick and easy to use, resulting in a professional finish with substantial savings on time and effort. The tool will never wear out making it a cost-effective addition to your toolkit and includes free abrasive sufficient for several re-frets.
The tool is supplied with industrial emery abrasive (blue twill/cloth backed). The specific properties of industrial 'metalworking' emery enable high precision and smooth surface finish on the frets.
OPTIONS
2 versions of the tool are available:
#1) The medium duty fret crowning tool is designed for fretwire from 2.4mm to 2.7mm wide.
#2) The heavy duty fret crowning tool is designed for fretwire from 2.4mm to 3.0mm wide.
METHOD
The abrasive can either be folded - or separate offcuts placed face to face and inserted through the gap in the middle of the tool. For best practice, the abrasive should be trimmed to a neat edge by cutting along the bottom of the tool with some shears. A small shim is supplied to work the abrasive against the tool at each side of the gap.
As the abrasive wears, new emery can be fed through the tool. As a rough guide, each new abrasive portion will dress a single fret and 1-2 strips of abrasive will be required to complete a guitar.
As the emery becomes smoother, the fret can be polished with the same abrasive.
It is recommended to attach the fret guard to the board using two small strips of tape as shown in the photo and to utilise the rubber band where possible. The fret guard is made from malleable stainless steel and will flex to the radius of the board.
Note also that the corner notches on the fret guard conceal the rubber band at each end allowing the tool to pass freely over the whole fret guard length.
INCLUDED
Crowning Tool – as per option specification.
Abrasive – grit as per option specification.
Fret guard / Fretboard Protector.
Allen Key.
Abrasive Spreader Shim.
(Please select option from menu for clarification of content & differences).
OPTION #1 - MEDIUM DUTY FRET CROWNING TOOL
The tool is suitable for medium/jumbo fret wire from 0.095" (2.4mm) up to 0.105" (2 .7mm). The tool features an offset handle for access over the guitar body and is designed for moderate use.
Includes 2 abrasive grades – 4 strips of each.
OPTION #2 - HEAVY DUTY FRET CROWNING TOOL
This version of the tool is designed for more extensive use. It features an offset hardwood handle and is supplied with an additional coarser grade of emery. The handle sides are connected using steel dowel pins through the central tool body ensuring robust design and a secure and comfortable grip. The tool is suitable for medium/jumbo to super jumbo fretwire from 0.095" (2.4mm) up to 0.110” (3.0mm).
Includes 3 abrasive grades – 4 strips of each.
NOTE OPTION #1 - (additional abrasive for 3mm fretwire).
It is also possible to utilise option #1 on 3mm fret wire by incorporating the heavy duty abrasive available from the spare abrasive product page. The tool would be suitable for occasional use on 3mm wire.
Please see the Fret Crowning / Dressing Information Guide & demonstration video for supplementary information.
RELATED PRODUCTS:
Please see the Product Category page for related items and spare abrasive.