Polishing Frets

[Pete si]

Can I use flitz to polish my frets or do I have to buy some other fret polishing stuff?

[elwoodblue]

Yes,
but spend the time to tape off the fingerboard with low tack tape,
...there will be blackish residue.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Is that a carbon-fiber guitar, Elwood?  How do you like it?

Peter

[elwoodblue]

I just grabbed that pic from google images.


(I've heard really good things about the Rainsong and Emerald brand guitars,yet to play one)

[gtrguy]

I just use quad uber fine steel wool and 2 bits of blue tape which I move onto the next fret after doing the last. I don't use any polishing compound. Be careful when doing the polishing near pickups as they can attract the tiny tiny bits of steel coming off the steel wool.

[StephenR]

I also mask off the frets and then use a superfine grade Scotchbrite-type pad to polish them. Same level of abrasive quality as 0000 grade steel wool and no concerns about bits of steel ending up on the pickups. I like using the Flitz to polish brass but have a certain amount of concern about the solvents getting on the fingerboard or finish.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I just use quad uber fine steel wool and 2 bits of blue tape which I move onto the next fret after doing the last. I don't use any polishing compound. Be careful when doing the polishing near pickups as they can attract the tiny tiny bits of steel coming off the steel wool.

I do that, but I tape off every fret first - and completely cover the p/up w/tape!

Peter

[cozmik_cowboy]

I just grabbed that pic from google images.


(I've heard really good things about the Rainsong and Emerald brand guitars,yet to play one)

Ah - thanks.  I've played one (disremember the brand), and wasn't blown away - but wasn't completely turned off, either; I mean, it sounded better than a Ovation.  And there are so many more options now, and so many people are singing their praises, I figure I should what knowledge comes my way.

Peter

[lbpesq]

I use fret polishing erasers from StewMac:    https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-fretting/polishing-and-abrasives/fret-erasers.html

Along with StewMac Fingerboard Guards:   https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-necks-and-fingerboards/stewmac-fingerboard-guards.html

Bill, tgo

[Pete si]

I looked at the stewmac fret polishers and there are several grits. Which one do you use?

[gtrguy]

You guys with yur fancy-schmancy store bought fixins, why back in the day we even had to make our own steel wool by whittling on the tractor frame till we had enough to do the job at hand!
(insert winking smiley face emoticon here)

[Pete si]

Lol. I like you do-it-yourselfers!

Now back to the 21st century. I saw on this Nomad site they have a fret polishing kit. Comes with the juice, 3 fretboard guards of different sizes and a shmata (cloth). I think I’m gonna give it a try on one of my guinea pig guitars and see how it works. I will publish the results here. I don’t like using steel wool on my guitars for reasons stated above.

[lbpesq]

I looked at the stewmac fret polishers and there are several grits. Which one do you use?

I have the full set and use them all when I level, crown, and polish.  If polishing only, the 2000, 4000, and 8000 should be all you'd ever need.  As for the guards, they are great, save a lot of time and effort vs. tape, but I found the rubber bands useless - just holding in place is quite sufficient.

Bill, tgo

[mario_farufyno]

Uh, never polished frets on my basses... Am I'm missing something?

[mario_farufyno]

I mean, I play it at least a couple of hours every single day and they look shiny to me. Never thought they need more rubing than use, I've just wipe off some gunk built up at fingerboard close to the frets once in a while.