The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 04-19-2021, 12:01 AM
FoxHound4690 FoxHound4690 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 583
Default Polishing frets advice thread.

What do you use to polish your frets with?

I polish my frets in basically a two step process...

1. buffing them lightly with 0000 grade steel wool (using a fret protector while I do this).
2. Polishing them with Dunlop 65 cream of carnauba.

Brings my frets back to basically a mirror sheen... couldn't get them any shinier if I tried.

What do you guys use to treat your frets? any additional/general advice and is also appreciated =)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-19-2021, 01:08 AM
Mike McLenison Mike McLenison is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,021
Default

Whenever I change the strings I use a StewMac Fingerboard Guard and polish the frets with Scotch-Brite and a little naptha. Steel wool is a bit messy for me.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-19-2021, 02:50 AM
Kaydee Kaydee is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 156
Angry

You polish frets ! Mine have never been polished in 14 years .
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-19-2021, 03:13 AM
RalphH RalphH is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Canterbury, UK
Posts: 1,285
Default

I just let mine corrode. That way they match the un-polished top
__________________
Gibson Customshop Hummingbird (Review)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-19-2021, 03:55 AM
AndrewG AndrewG is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Exeter, UK
Posts: 7,674
Default

Steel wool (OOOO), followed by various grades of fret eraser.
__________________
Faith Mars FRMG
Faith Neptune FKN
Epiphone Masterbilt Texan
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-19-2021, 04:15 AM
rmp rmp is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 6,897
Default

0000 steel wool will work great, but it makes a bit of a mess and you'll want to mask off the fret board in between the frets to protect the wood, as well as cover the sound hole or pickups on an electric.

I also like Frine Fret polish.. comes with a little kit with fret board masks and a cloth. Does as good a job I think as does steel wool. Less mess and it makes a quicker job out of the task.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-19-2021, 04:32 AM
Tenzin Tenzin is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Long Island, NY USA
Posts: 306
Default

Semichrome polish
__________________
--
Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by practicing patience we stop retaliating to harm and criticism, people will gradually come to understand that our real nature is very special.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-19-2021, 04:59 AM
kizz kizz is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 823
Default

Quote:
1. buffing them lightly with 0000 grade steel wool (using a fret protector while I do this).
This is what i have done allways..
__________________
Jan
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-19-2021, 05:08 AM
bls82261 bls82261 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Virginia
Posts: 286
Default

I use these. They come in a variety of grits, last a long time and are mess free. They can be bought at any online bowlers supply store. I use painters tape to protect fretboard.


__________________
1953 Gibson LG-2
1966 Martin D-28 (really still my dads)
1979 Yamaha SG2000 (SB electric)
2014 Yamaha LS16
2020 Squier CV 50's Telecaster
2022 Yamaha FG3
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-19-2021, 06:03 AM
RoyBoy RoyBoy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 647
Default

(I'm a luthier) Dremel tool with the little buffing wheels, jeweler's rouge. This after 1,200 grit wet or dry for refrets/dressings.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-19-2021, 07:05 AM
EZYPIKINS EZYPIKINS is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 3,900
Default

I used to mask off the fretboard and polish them with that stinky cotton cymbal cleaner. My drummer had a can and never used it. Very messy and stunk up the whole room.
Stewmac came out with the fret eraser. Much easier, less mess, no need to mask a rosewood board. Polishes to a mirror shine.
Polish, Clean, and oil takes just a few minutes.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-19-2021, 08:34 AM
jpmist jpmist is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 979
Default

The foam backed manicure sticks work real well for me. They have an appropriate range of micromesh sandpaper and the foam keeps you from flattening the fret.

__________________
Larrivee OO-05, OOV-03, OO-44R & Strat
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-19-2021, 08:57 AM
charles Tauber charles Tauber is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 8,381
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by EZYPIKINS View Post
Stewmac came out with the fret eraser.
Those of us with a technical background and who are old enough remember those as drafting eraser shields. They were found on every draftsmen's drafting table and were used as masks to allow "spot" erasing of pencil lines. They were available at every art supply store for 50 cents or so. Here's one version of it:https://www.amazon.ca/HEALLILY-Stain...844166&sr=8-11

Kudos to StewMac for repurposing them, but they aren't a new invention.

As an aside, I don't use them. Except for fingerboards that have a finish on them (e.g. Fender), or have elaborate graved-and-filled inlays, I sand/clean the fingerboard surface at the same time as the frets, making it look like new. If there isn't a finish on the fingerboard that needs protecting, I'm not sure why one would want or need to mask it.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-19-2021, 09:13 AM
redir redir is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 7,657
Default

I just use Scotch Bright pads. You can wrap sand paper around a pencil eraser and Voila! You have a fret eraser.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-19-2021, 11:03 AM
CoryB CoryB is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: East of Richmond Virginia
Posts: 335
Default

I use a Gorgomite cloth followed by a microfiber rubdown as regular maintenance when I change strings.

If I get a new used guitar I mask off the fretboard and polish the frets with Flitz.
__________________
Coupla Martins, coupla Gibsons, a few Taylors, and an Alvarez.

"Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind." Twelfth Doctor
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:13 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=