How hard is a refret?

[Cboss]

Using pre-radiused pre-cut fret wire? Pretty easy? Roughly what is the process, are there a couple drops of super glue involved on each one? Press them in, hammer them in?

Leveling necessary afterwards? Or are they usually good to go

[RobB]

They are not easy to do properly. You really have to concentrate on getting each step as perfect as possible, as sloppy work tends to snowball downhill to the finished product. Like my co-worker in the Washburn finishing dept said, “your finish is only as good as your substrate.”

If you’re new to fretting, I suggest you find a couple of cheapo guitars at thrift/pawn shops and learn on those before you tackle one of your own guitars. 

 

[Dave Scepter]

44 minutes ago, RobB said:

If you’re new to fretting, I suggest you find a couple of cheapo guitars at thrift/pawn shops and learn on those before you tackle one of your own guitars. 

 

This is good advice... and exactly why I've been buying up cheap Squier Strats

[hamerhead]

You need the patience of a saint and a lust for tedium.

[Cboss]

One thing I really love about my hamer usa's, the frets are always great 

[BadgerDave]

I've done one refret as part of a class at the Chicago School of Guitar Making at Specimen Guitar.

It wasn't difficult, but you have to know precisely what you're doing at each step of the process and you need the right tools.  

Leveling. crowning, dressing the fret ends and polishing are necessary steps.  Pre-cut fret wire is going to be slightly wider than your fretboard, so you'll need to file the fret ends flush and make them rounded and smooth.  IMO, that's the hardest step to get right and requires skill and practice.

[Dutchman]

It's not a terrible job, but I agree with @RobB practice on some junkers before getting it on with a quality guitar. 

Make sure the fret slots are clean and deep enough to take the full depth of the new frets. I've seen that happen a couple times. 

Develop your own technique on the fret ends. It's become popular to finish them before installing lately to get a round end. You choose!

[scottcald]

On 2/4/2024 at 10:01 AM, hamerhead said:

You need the patience of a saint and a lust for tedium.

This is true.  I bought a couple of tools to try this for some fret sprout.  I'd watch some videos and they all made it seem like it's pretty quick and only a few passes will get you there.  Man, kudos to those who do this stuff all day, I couldn't do it. 

[Eli]

I've done two in my time (while being supervised by a luthier) and got good results.

However, the way my hands feel after doing that, or any fret work makes me understand why they cost as much as they do.

I'm more of the mind to save up and go to the right guy for the work at this point in my life.

That said, I'll do a spot level and crown if there's something minor out of whack now and then.

 

And then a hand massage...😅

[Steve Haynie]

If you do frets regularly it is not a problem.  If you are doing a one time job just be patient. 

[DaveH]

6 hours ago, Steve Haynie said:

If you do frets regularly it is not a problem.  If you are doing a one time job just be patient. 

I'll take that a step further... If you are doing a one time job just farm it out.