Gritty Stainless Frets?

[glpg80]

I’ve got to get rid of gritty frets. I’m new to stainless but apparently this is pretty common.

What are y’all using to get rid of the micro pitting so that they’re smooth and polished with no returning grit feeling?

I suppose I need to recrown and polish them? Can you get away with just sanding without needing to recrown?

 

[Bloodrock]

I use 0000 steel wool to smooth and polish my frets, but I’m not sure how well it works on stainless frets. Might take more elbow grease.

 

[gbsmusic]

I use 0000 steel wool to smooth and polish my frets, but I’m not sure how well it works on stainless frets. Might take more elbow grease.

Yes exactly, This is what I've used. I've actually used lemon oil and I do it to the fretboard too it's not going to hurt it. It has never left a mark on any of my boards.

 

[glpg80]

Yes exactly, This is what I've used. I've actually used lemon oil and I do it to the fretboard too it's not going to hurt it. It has never left a mark on any of my boards.

I’ve used 0000 on nickel frets but on stainless? They eat diamond files…. 0000 works on getting rid of grit on them too?

 

[LP Freak]

I’ve used 0000 on nickel frets but on stainless? They eat diamond files…. 0000 works on getting rid of grit on them too?

It’ll work or get some fret erasers

 

[SpiderWars]

I've been using the 3M polishing paper forever now. I finish with pink.

 

[Tone Junkie]

Stew Mac has a polishing kit. From like 600-15,000 with fretboard protecter.

Good kit.

 

[gbsmusic]

I’ve used 0000 on nickel frets but on stainless? They eat diamond files…. 0000 works on getting rid of grit on them too?

With stainless it does take a while, you'll get a good workout on your arm.

 

[TheRealDonnie]

Fret erasers are the best for SS in my experience.

 

[gbsmusic]

Just another quick note on this I would think it depends how bad they are. I used to go over mine usually every time I would change strings so it really never got bad.

 

[Metlupass2]

Just curious...what guitar is it on? I've never encountered this with SS frets myself.

 

[LP Freak]

Just curious...what guitar is it on? I've never encountered this with SS frets myself.

Me neither and I have a few with SS

 

[bigviolin]

It's actually the wound strings, not the SS frets. I feel it too and it wears away pretty quickly.

 

[Monkey Man]

Just curious...what guitar is it on? I've never encountered this with SS frets myself.

Same here mate.

 

[Exo-metal]

Why isbit your problem. Send it back to the fool who the crappy work.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

Once well polished, crowned and what have you, you shouldn't have to worry about any pitting on s/s fretwire. I've never had gritty feeling s/s frets on any of my guitars.

 

[Greazygeo]

I’ve used 0000 on nickel frets but on stainless? They eat diamond files…. 0000 works on getting rid of grit on them too?

They eat diamond files? I will have to tell mine. One is just starting to get dull after about 15 years now.

Tape off the board, start with 220, 320 600 800 and then 0000 or 00000 steel wool. I can usually get em with 600 and then steel wool. You can go 1000 1500 if you have the time…then some kind of buffing compound if you really wanna get after it. You have to look really close at each step and get ALL the scratches out. If you see any, go back a grit and start again.

I haven’t ever had to touch up either of my three main guitars.

 

[glpg80]

They eat diamond files? I will have to tell mine. One is just starting to get dull after about 15 years now.

Tape off the board, start with 220, 320 600 800 and then 0000 or 00000 steel wool. I can usually get em with 600 and then steel wool. You can go 1000 1500 if you have the time…then some kind of buffing compound if you really wanna get after it. You have to look really close at each step and get ALL the scratches out. If you see any, go back a grit and start again.

I haven’t ever had to touch up either of my three main guitars.

Am I only sanding the top? Keeping the contour by doing a rounding motion?

I have 600 and 800 and 0000 on hand. I’ll have to get a Dremel and leather wheel with compound for polishing - I’ve read not to skip compound steps when dealing with scratches in stainless. Will this be enough or do I need to go down to 300 grit? I don’t have the tools to recrown getting too aggressive with sandpaper.

 

[Metlupass2]

Am I only sanding the top? Keeping the contour by doing a rounding motion?

I have 600 and 800 and 0000 on hand. I’ll have to get a Dremel and leather wheel with compound for polishing - I’ve read not to skip compound steps when dealing with scratches in stainless. Will this be enough or do I need to go down to 300 grit? I don’t have the tools to recrown getting too aggressive with sandpaper.

Dude...what guitar is this ?