We need to talk about stainless steel frets. (it's bad) 

Damn, the guy who needs a refret job every 6 months probably already has arthritis and tendinits

not quite sure I'm getting the point of this. - and your table saw analogy doesn't make any sense either. I suppose we drive more recklessly because we have seatbelts, ABS and airbags? What? Oh It's the *player's* problem that they wear through frets too fast...well yes dude, that's entirely the point and it's why they get SS frets. But they MUST be playing incorrectly then.... ....Rubbish dude. pure rubbish. Let's go back to the tool thing: If these are all tools, tools are meant to be used and tools WEAR OUT depending on use. How you use them and how I use them are not going to be the same way. But one way is not better than the other and to suggest that a person wearing out frets too often is not playing correctly is beyond super cork sniffing elitist. You gonna finger wag SRV for holding the guitar a bit too hard in his monster mitts as he's doing 2 step bends on 13 gauge strings? Ok... If fact if you aren't wearing them out, you aren't using the tool very much. I apparently have a death grip fretting hand because i used to be that guy going in for a fret dressing every 8 months or so. (I actually don't have an iron claw but I certainly played alot when I was younger and gigging professionally). do I have arthritis after playing 35 years? ironically not in my fretting hand but in my strumming hand....I do have a few SS fretted guitars as a result. probably has saved me hundreds in saved fret dressings over the years. YMMV but it's a viable option for those that need it - some opinions should be left indoors.

The main issue with stainless it that techs don't want to deal with them because they are way more work to put in, harder to do right and eat up tools. That's why I learned to refret my own guitars

I get through a set of medium jumbos in 8-12 months. Lots of bends. Lots of repetition. Usually my D and G strings are completely scooped by 6 months and won't do anything but "plunk" by the year's end. I'm just scared to put stainless on my #1 and #2 because I worry it will change the sound. :(

What do you consider the ideal humidity %. I have a 100 year old steamer chest that I keep my tenor ukuleles in and can pretty much keep a consistent humidity level anywhere between 40-60%, usually around 50%. I live in the desert so maintaining humidity is critical.

So, what about SS frets?

For scratchy pots, use contact cleaner. A very good choice would be DeoxIT D5. It's a little pricey (about $17 a can), but it takes just a tiny squirt or two and will pretty much last forever if you only use it on your own equipment. It also works on amp pots and all kinds of electronics. There are cheaper contact cleaners, but the DeoxIT contains a lubricant in addition to the cleaner that reduces wear and keeps everything feeling nice and smooth.

yep i have a death grip and killer vibrato also using 9 to 42, 12 months and frets are toast moving to stainless as soon as i can

To be fair its not just wear right? I have VERY sweaty hands and my frets get this oxidation layer very fast. I can polish them every string change but I would rather not :) (the same reason why I pretty much have to use coated strings... which feel slightly worse but I can't change strings every week). A light touch is great but that's the guitar teachers job not the frets materials. But that's just my opinion :D

I'm someone who likes to play the same guitar everyday and I like to bend a lot of notes, more so on electric but still a good amount on acoustic. I need a refret every 3 years with nickel. Stainless last forever, feels great and sounds great. I refret all my guitars with stainless steel, sure is nice having frets that feel brand new for years...

Risk Compensation is the thing you're describing about saftey. But, what are players doing to wear through their frets so quickly? How common is that steam hole dealie to remove the neck?

Thanks!

I enjoyed the Q & A, thanks

Great stuff. Thanks!

If you literally oil your strings on a regular basis your frets will have a micro coating of oil between the sting and fret. I have oiled my bass strings with 3 in 1 Oil daily for over 50 years! I have never had to replace a single fret. The oil also keeps my fretboards and fretless fingerboards from having humidity issues.

I wouldn't say the issue has to do with stainless steel frets themselves, but how they're marketed. Stainless steel does rust, but it takes a lot more for that to happen. Also, they do wear out, but it takes way more time because the strings are made of a softer metal (nickel plated spring steel). If you put them on an acoustic, they will probably outlast you. Now, if you use stainless steel strings on stainless steel frets, they will wear at the same rate as regular frets because you have two metals of the same hardness rubbing against each other. And if you use them on regular frets, the frets will wear faster.