Fret removal

TheMachineRagesOn · 05-07-2006, 02:02 AM

Howdy MX, firstly i have found a new more efficient way in removing frets and no this is not going to be a detailed guide or anything,sorry to dissapoint you.Im not sure if i could post this in another thread or whatnot either.

any ways the way i did it requires 2 things, a soldering iron (a decent one) and a paint scraper or something of the kind. (as long as its really thin,flexible and won't gouge too much of the fret board
All i did was heat up the fret right at the bottom corner until i could get the paint scraper underneath and carefully pry the fret up.
It may take sometime so patience is needed to heat up each fret enough so you can pry out the fret without damaging the fretboard.
Took me about 20 to 30 minutes to complete a 24 fret neck.

ohh and be sure to use the paint scraper/blade on a 45 degree angle too.

Hopefully this isnt considered spam.

But i thought it could be useful considering alot of other people use chisels and mallets to do it whilst this way is easier and wont damge the fretboard at all if done with time and care.

Cheers guys

Dave293 · 05-07-2006, 03:19 AM

Yeah alot of people do it that way. Have you got any pics of the finished product?

blizzard · 05-07-2006, 03:49 AM

I heard you can do it quicker using a clothes iron and do several frets at once.

TheMachineRagesOn · 05-07-2006, 06:17 AM

ahh i dont have any pics but it doesnt matter now cause ive painted over the fretboard and body in silver, like a full body tribal tattoo thing it looks f*cking crazy, ill try and post pics later

Peg Dizzler · 05-07-2006, 10:30 AM

Stewmac sells a special fret puller for this type of thing. The book on fretting I have also recommends to heat the fret with a soldering iron, and use a steel fret guard so you don't accidently hit the fingerboard. I have yet to remove frets myself though, I just remove the whole fingerboard with my handy dandy fretboard heating blanket...

05-07-2006, 02:02 AM	#1
TheMachineRagesOn TRAB PU KCIP!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Down under,where woman glow and men chunder. Posts: 912	Fret removal Howdy MX, firstly i have found a new more efficient way in removing frets and no this is not going to be a detailed guide or anything,sorry to dissapoint you.Im not sure if i could post this in another thread or whatnot either. any ways the way i did it requires 2 things, a soldering iron (a decent one) and a paint scraper or something of the kind. (as long as its really thin,flexible and won't gouge too much of the fret board All i did was heat up the fret right at the bottom corner until i could get the paint scraper underneath and carefully pry the fret up. It may take sometime so patience is needed to heat up each fret enough so you can pry out the fret without damaging the fretboard. Took me about 20 to 30 minutes to complete a 24 fret neck. ohh and be sure to use the paint scraper/blade on a 45 degree angle too. Hopefully this isnt considered spam. But i thought it could be useful considering alot of other people use chisels and mallets to do it whilst this way is easier and wont damge the fretboard at all if done with time and care. Cheers guys

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05-07-2006, 03:19 AM	#2
Dave293 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 182	Yeah alot of people do it that way. Have you got any pics of the finished product?

05-07-2006, 03:49 AM	#3
blizzard Real men play pink basses Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,318	I heard you can do it quicker using a clothes iron and do several frets at once.

05-07-2006, 06:17 AM	#4
TheMachineRagesOn TRAB PU KCIP!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Down under,where woman glow and men chunder. Posts: 912	ahh i dont have any pics but it doesnt matter now cause ive painted over the fretboard and body in silver, like a full body tribal tattoo thing it looks f*cking crazy, ill try and post pics later

05-07-2006, 10:30 AM	#5
Peg Dizzler look I'm a TBF wannabe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still in the luthier's workshop... Posts: 5,065	Stewmac sells a special fret puller for this type of thing. The book on fretting I have also recommends to heat the fret with a soldering iron, and use a steel fret guard so you don't accidently hit the fingerboard. I have yet to remove frets myself though, I just remove the whole fingerboard with my handy dandy fretboard heating blanket...