Mastering Smooth Fret Ends 

Super quality video on every aspect. Well done guys!

Thanks for posting this. This is probably the most comprehensive video on how to correct sharp fret ends that I have seen yet.

The cheapest guitar I ever bought on Amazon a month ago had the smoothest and rounded frets ends. Guitar cost $98! Bought as a project guitar. No fret work needed. Change of strings and it was good to go. Getting a Fender Player stat tomorrow. I guarantee it will need fret work. Thank you.

great zoom-ins on the fret ends. Really could see the rounding work so much better than previous videos. Thanks!

StewMac, bravo on this in-depth updated version of Dan’s instructional. To anyone curious about doing their own fretwork, this is 100% all the info you need. With only these 2 or 3 tools, and a little practice, you can definitely do this yourself. The cost of the tools add up to the same price as a setup with some fretwork. It’s worth it. It didn’t take me long to get the technique right with the beveler and fret dressing file. You can totally do this!

I've been using raw cloth-backed Micro Mesh 1500-12000 grit to polish fret ends after beveling for 25 years now. Micro Mesh is an incredible polishing tool that comes in many forms, like the foam-backed version seen here, and is used in many industries from finger nail polishing to removing scratches in fighter jet canopies. It's actually known as the "non-abrasive-abrasive" because if you lay into it with some elbow grease, the heavier grit can be abrasive when you need it to be. It's extremely controllable. It works on metals, woods and plastics. For guitars, 2400 grit is a good starting place finally ending with 4000 grit to finely polish most guitar related surfaces to a gloss. Your grit choices may vary. The ONLY problem is Micro Mesh is wicked expensive, and the older MM from the 90's that I use absolutely works better than the new stuff, but the new MM can still last a long time. Like I said, I'm still using Micro Mesh from the 90s when I was a trombone maker. I saved a lot of it because I knew how special it is. Use MM wet or dry and use an ultra sonic cleaner with detergent to clean and renew it. HOPE THIS HELPS.

There are many RU-vid videos that address this subject but this video is by FAR the best. Thank-you very much.

I had this problem for years, but simply keeping the guitar in the case made a big difference. Recently I've been putting the humidifying packs made for cigar humidors in my case, an inexpensive way to manage dryness. One cheap little pack works for months. I no longer have that fret popping issue.

Great tutorial I did this to my cheap ibanez flamenco guitar which plays amazing for the price. After filing and dressing then polished with micromesh pads then oiled the fretboard and now it's super smooth and feels like an expensive guitar. Thanks for the video 😎

February Fret Ends. Driest month, and it'll be good all year. Great teaching in your videos Gene, thank you!

Fantastic! I really appreciate how thorough you were. Would like to see more videos like this given I view StewMac tips as highly trusted. How about a level, crown & polish? Or even a full refret would be wonderful too

Great camera work showing the subtle motions with the files. With a maple fretboard, is there any special technique to avoid damaging the lacquer/finish on fretboard edge? Thanks

Great video!

What a great video. Now I need to buy all the tools mentioned.

Thanks for this video. The detailed camera work really helps make the process clear.

Thanks for posting. Great explanation !

OK wow. This IS the video I've been looking for. Thanks for sharing

Great video and tips!

Excellent video, thanks.

Excellent!

Well explained. Thank you!

great video!

Loved the humor! I had to pause the video for a minute to laugh. I almost expected Dan to rush in wearing scrubs & prepped for surgery. 🤣 Remembering the first time I picked up my brand new Harmony Strat-copy birthday present as a 16 y/o. As I was admiring it I ran my hand down the neck, and was greeted with it taking a tiny chunk out of my palm. Sharp fret ends positively suck… but they teach you a lesson in the end. Two actually. One - to beware the fret ends after a seasonal change. And two - to quickly learn how to deal with them. To avoid massive hemorrhaging. 😉🤣 Another great video! I could never even begin to quantify how much Stew Mac content has taught me. Seriously in your debt.

Excellent. Thank you.

Very useful information. Thank you for sharing.

excellent video

This is great!

Thank you for this Knowledge!!

Awesome video, thanks for the lesson.

Very informative video, many thanks!

Great video. Thanks

Thanks well made and informative!

Great Video. Thanks.

Great lesson!. Thanks for all these videos. So helpful.

Good instructional video for a common, age old problem!

Well done, thank you 👍

All the info I needed without unnecessary banter. Perfect!

Brilliantly articulated as usual..

Answered every question I had. Amazing job.

Really great detailed vid

Quite useful video for sure, very well explained, I especially liked hearing for the change when filing down the side of the frets, very helpful tip

Thank you very much for the great, detailed instructions. Have a good time and a not so cold winter...Peace

Great timing Gene. I am doing the fret job on the 12-string you and I have discussed at length as we speak. Thanks again to all you guys at StewMac for the help we receive whenever we ask. Byron Stafford, N.E. Arizona.

Very instructive and helpful information, thank you!

very clear and detail explanations. Thank you very much for your professionnalism.

Good tips. Thank you.

Great video, thank you!👍

What a great video! Thank you so much, StewMac!

This is precisely what I needed. What are all the tools needed? How to use them most effectively, efficiently, and in what order? Just perfect. Excellent editing also. Just the right amount of time for each detail. Thank you stew mac

Wow! Best instruction I've experienced on the subject - simple and clear, all the detail you need, without complication. Well done.

Thank You, Very Useful.

Super cool video

Was just about to do mine, I’m reminded every time it’s cold , even in so cal

I really liked the tip at the end! Great video, as always!

I use Stewmac's 3 corner file for radiusing fret ends. Made a LOT of money with that file! And steel wool is the DEVIL. I never use it anymore.

Wow! This is so detailed ans extensive. Thank you!

excellent content, ty

USA, looks yummy! I'll have to try it. Thank You!

This is great. I was just wondering about this today. Great video and close ups. Very helpful. Looks like i need to grab some tools from you guys.

Best and most detailed video I've seen on this subject. Thank you.

Best fret sprout video I've seen. Thank you!

I just got a custom made tapping instrument and I really need to do this to the frets. Excellent video...thank you so much for posting!

We have very long and harsh winters here in Norway. I made it a habbit to bring my Acustic info the bathroom when I shower during winter. Works like a charm🙌

Great information, well presented. Top notch.

Way, way helpful. Thank you!

Literally...the best fret shaping tutorial I have seen after suffering more youtube wandering than I care to admit. Having done my time with a file in a machining world, the overall approach completely makes sense, I just hadnt peiced it all together till I saw this vid. Excellent sense of humor and great graphical representations too. Yes...I am clicking subscribe now guys, keep it up!

Very good info, I feel like I might be able to do this myself now. You've really taken care to note everything, you went slow enough for me to catch everything and that tells me you care about having the end result turn out right for me. Thank you.

Great video , opening is comical. The most concise tutorial I’ve ever seen.❤

Great no-nonsense video. Thanks for sharing.

I've ordered parts and tools galore from stewmac over the years. Last job was a broken cello neck and I steamed it apart, splined and reset neck, and put it all back together. Cello plays like a dream again. U guys rock.

Great Video... Very informative !

Oh boy. I remember when I got my first bass with this issue. I was young and clueless about fret sprout. My fingers looked like that shredded dowel! After doing my own fretwork now, I can say this video shows exactly what is needed for success.

Perfect instructions thanks 👍

Guys, incredible video. So instructive, so detailed, and so short ( not to mention so humorous ). That says a lot about the StewMac reputation. Keep up the great work. Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge with all of us "wannabes". You Rock!!!

Like the dressing flie push stroke for both sides. I really get into a groove with it. Hips, elbows, body position, rotating my body into each stroke. After a while you just get super fast at it. Don't like a bevelling file as well. I'll just go straight to the mesh pad cycle and I'll go through em all, then rub it out with fine polish. Don't feel comfortable with steel wool on electric guitars, magnetic pick ups and fine metal dust isn't to appealing to me. Basically, the same techniques. With a few minor variations. Everyone develops their own technique. Personally l like more rounded frets ends. Even bring in the frets a little more and roll the freeboard a little as well. Though you might have to make another nut with narrower string spacing. Just a personal preference.

very good thanks

Excellent thank you!

great technique, and it's really well presented. great camera work! thanks!

Superb informative video. Thank you. Micro mesh has so many uses. As well as using it on frets it's also good for levelling out any paint or varnish touch-ups. Used with water you can get a super flat finish prior to finishing with a good polish.

Awesome video! I have two basses that need this done.

I have been doing this for years and this is probably the most complete easy to follow video ever made on the topic!

Awesome

Nice job, gang!

Great video. I need this and it's going in my save bucket. I have the fret end dressing file and the micro mesh pads. Both tools are great. I'd like to get the mill file now. I've dressed about a dozen sets of frets and boy do I need the practice. I'm getting better and have discovered, as you said, that I've over-dressed sets of frets often. It's not an easy skill to perfect, but practice and training videos like this are great. I will keep after it. Thank you for this simple, yet great training video.

Hahaha! Great special effects and very informative. Thanks!!

This a great video.

great video. loved the intro 😂

Totally pro here! Great vid!!! By far the best! Will buy the files exactly as described.!

Thank you so much

Great video! I taught myself how to use my left hand for the other side of the fret. Just practiced on a junk neck and before long it was no problem.

THANK YOU!!!!

Incredibly well taught and filmed. You made D.I.Y. less scary 👍

Just what I wanted to know, thanks!

Great video. I’m about to do this for the first time by myself but feel pretty confident after watching this. Thanks

Dude thanks....I was panicking so hard the other day, I picked up every single guitar and they all developed sharp fret ends during this month. I thought my guitars were done for but I read into it and people were saying most of the time you can treat it like this and you should be fine. Thanks for the video...right on time.

Thank you ☕️

Thanks!

3M polishing papers also work great for the final polish.

Good timing - I grabbed a guitar to play this am that I haven't played in a bout a month and realized it has succumbed to the Wyoming winter. The fret ends are protruding and sharp. We're snowed in - I'll work on this today! Thank YOU!

Great video. It’s pretty much how I do it. I do use your fret beveling file that is embedded in the poly block and on new builds or a refret when you are removing more material I have noticed the filings tend to get under the block and scratch the frets so I usually tape off the frets except for the ends to prevent that.