Fret installation tips

cathouse willy · May 7, 2019

For my second build I will install the frets after the neck and fretboard are installed. I tap the frets into place and then use a press to seat them but I'm not sure how to deal with the frets over the sound board, (fretboard extension?) Hammering on this section seems a bit risky. Hopefully someone has some tips.
Thanks
Bill

Cornerstone · May 7, 2019

I install the frets before I glue the fretboard to the neck. Solves that problem.

Timbuck · May 7, 2019

cathouse willy said:
For my second build I will install the frets after the neck and fretboard are installed. I tap the frets into place and then use a press to seat them but I'm not sure how to deal with the frets over the sound board, (fretboard extension?) Hammering on this section seems a bit risky. Hopefully someone has some tips.
Thanks
Bill

you can use one of those thingies that fit a heavy plate via the soundhole under the fretboard extension or cut the slots wider than usual and fit the frets with epoxy without hammering them in.

sequoia · May 7, 2019

cathouse willy said:
For my second build I will install the frets after the neck and fretboard are installed. I tap the frets into place and then use a press to seat them but I'm not sure how to deal with the frets over the sound board, (fretboard extension?) Hammering on this section seems a bit risky. Hopefully someone has some tips.
Thanks
Bill

Tip: Don't do it that way. Install frets on fretboard before gluing it to the neck like Cornerstone says.

DPO · May 7, 2019

cathouse willy said:
For my second build I will install the frets after the neck and fretboard are installed. I tap the frets into place and then use a press to seat them but I'm not sure how to deal with the frets over the sound board, (fretboard extension?) Hammering on this section seems a bit risky. Hopefully someone has some tips.
Thanks
Bill

Why, on only your second build, do you want to make life so difficult?

cathouse willy · May 7, 2019

DPO said:
Why, on only your second build, do you want to make life so difficult?

I should mention that the slots were cut before glueing on the neck It's only the last 4 frets that are an issue the other 16 went nicely. Besides it seemed like a good idea at the time. I think I'll widen the slots slightly so no tapping is needed and then glue in the last 4 frets.

Michael Smith · May 8, 2019

Never done it but don't see why you couldn't squeeze them in with a small C clamp thru the sound hole. But like others have said don't do it that way no more.

Beau Hannam Ukuleles · May 8, 2019

File the tang off a little bit and press them in with glue.

Also, I have some videos on how i do it on youtube.

cathouse willy · May 11, 2019

Thanks for the replies, I enlarged the slots a little bit so it took a light tap to seat them and used epoxy on the fret ends. All better now.

Fret installation tips

cathouse willy

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Cornerstone

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Timbuck

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sequoia

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DPO

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cathouse willy

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Michael Smith

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Beau Hannam Ukuleles

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cathouse willy

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