How do you guys polish the sides of the frets after crowning?

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Matt300ZXT

Matt300ZXT

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Since I've had to level either slightly, or a lot, and recrown frets on 3 of my guitars now, I need some ideas for polishing the sides of the fret. I can get the top pretty damn good with 0000 steel wool, then 5 grades of micromesh and my Dremel and metal polish.

I know I need to go get a few sheets of probably 600, 800, and 1000 and then hit with micromesh and maybe even a few softer grades for real shine, but I can't really do as much for the leading and trailing side of the fret like I want.
 
I dont need to hit the fret ends (I've been lucky so far), I'm talking about the front and back sides of the fret, like headed down towards the fretboard.
 
It's not really getting close enough to get them all. I did find a video last night where Stew Mac has these tools that look like a fret end file, but they just adhere some sticky backed sand paper to them and can use that to really get in there. I may buy a couple of those and keep various grits on them.
 
Assuming you put masking tape between all the frets prior to starting to work on the frets.... After I level/crown, etc.. I'll go over the frets starting with 600 grit, moving up through about 1200 grit wet/dry sand paper. Then I use these 1000/2000 grit wet/dry sanding blocks from Walmart, but I've had them forever so not sure if you can still get them there. The foam allows you to get around the fret on either side, as well as the top. Then I finish it off with this kit from Harbor Freight that I chuck up in my cordless drill, has metal polish a couple of little buffing wheels and the frets come out like mirrors.

IMG_20250530_094049742.jpg




https://www.harborfreight.com/2-12-in-polishing-and-buffing-kit-with-14-in-shank-4-piece-59287.html

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I tape off the fretboard and go at it with all 6 different grits of the Fret erasers from Stew Mac ....

tehn buff out with a dremel and a regular little buffing wheel
 
 
I use fine sandpaper typically starting at 400 after a re-crown and go up to about 3000 before hitting it with a fine polishing wheel. The paper conforms to your fingers and will get the sides as well when you're pushing down on it. I don't bother with steel wool for much of anything and I only use the fret eraser when working on frets that are already in great shape. They're a little slow for getting that high polish.
 
What is your metal polish of choice and where do you buy it ??
Links ??
 
This is a dumb question but how do you know if your frets even need this? Is it obvious or no?

I use .0000 steel wool on my frets maybe once a year but that's it. Never all this other stuff and I'd be scared to use metal polish :dunno:
 
311boogieman said:
This is a dumb question but how do you know if your frets even need this? Is it obvious or no?

I use .0000 steel wool on my frets maybe once a year but that's it. Never all this other stuff and I'd be scared to use metal polish :dunno:
Click to expand...
To answer this:

Your frets will feel scratchy when you do bends. You ever notice some guitars have frets so damn shiny you can see yourself and others....well, probably didn't even catch your eye.....

This also improves the overall feel of the guitar when you play.

I go with 9 levels of micromesh pads and then use a touch of metal polish/protectant and hand burnish with a piece of leather and then polish up with a cloth.
 
I use 0000 steel wool to clean them, then a 3000 and 5000 grit wet dry pads I got from a car parts store, then polish with a hand buffing pad. the micro mesh pads I fold up and just get down as close to the masking tape as possible.

Here is a before and after:
 

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I should have noted that the micromesh ends at 12000 grit. With the metal polish compound afterward and such....mirrors my man.
 
Rocker68 said:
What is your metal polish of choice and where do you buy it ??
Links ??
Click to expand...
I use white diamond liquid. Works great. Goes on white but turns black when you hit it with the dremmel. Tried something different the other day on my crackhead neighbors pos guitar. After cleaning it up and fixing it I polished the frets. Then I took sandpaper and just hit the edges of the neck and the fret ends. Just ever so slightly rounded it. Felt great and turned out great….
 
Rocker68 said:
What is your metal polish of choice and where do you buy it ??
Links ??
Click to expand...

I use Flitz polish. I honestly have no need for a dremel. I get that people like to use them, but I haven't found any need. Not only that, the dremel can eat away a fret pretty quickly depending on who is holding it. May go from nice leveled frets to slightly uneven. You ever see a guitar and think "How on earth did they do that damage to the fret??" Dremel.

If you have a good easy and steady hand, a dremel can save the grunt work and a some time I'm sure but is not required.
 
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