So far I've only used 0000 steel wool, but on the electrics the neck had been removed and was well cleaned before being reattached to the body. I've been curious about the micro mesh pads, but I do want to get a Dremel or Dremel-like tool in the near future, and that method does look pretty slick.
Polishing frets?
- Thread starter JDarby
- Start date
Here is how I normally do mine. Keep inind that this is a full refret but if I am only polishing and not smoothing then start at the 22:00 mark. If I am smoothing them then I use a crowning file followed by an emery wheel on my dremel before the polish wheel. Start at 14:05 for the full smoothing after the leveling.Welcome I believe @Believer7713 may have suggested scotch brite pads of varying grades. Hopefully he'll chip in and enlighten you.......and remind me. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong.
I use these.
I can get one full fret polish from one of these. I keep a bunch on hand and pick up more when im at walgreens.I have seen what dremels can do accidentally. Puttin a screwdriver to my junk makes me sweat. A dremel aint coming near it. I need therapy after soldering.
I can get one full fret polish from one of these. I keep a bunch on hand and pick up more when im at walgreens.I have seen what dremels can do accidentally. Puttin a screwdriver to my junk makes me sweat. A dremel aint coming near it. I need therapy after soldering.
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I wouldn't want a screwdriver stuck in my junk either...
Errr, wait, are we talking about the same thing?
I would never use a dremel on my frets. I seriously f'd up the frets on an expensive Les Paul with a dremel in my younger days.
Steel wool is just a PITA because it gets EVERYWHERE, and can seriously irritate your skin.
If I have to polish frets (and let's be real, how often do you really need to polish your frets?) I use this.
Steel wool is just a PITA because it gets EVERYWHERE, and can seriously irritate your skin.
If I have to polish frets (and let's be real, how often do you really need to polish your frets?) I use this.
Guy Incognito
Senior Stratmaster
Lol. I don't know what compound I have. I'll have to dig it out again tomorrow. I know it came with the Mastercraft (Canadian Tire) rotary set.
Guy Incognito
Senior Stratmaster
Wheel polish?
Oh Jeeze, I got paint cutting polishing compound...
General PDP Template | Canadian Tire
I have this set but a long time ago I bought this set's baby brother. It came with a few buffing wheels and a hard compound you load the wheel with.
That's what I've been using for 30 years.
rocknrollrich
Most Honored Senior Member
Jeweler's rouge works perfectly. I shine up my wedding band with it also.Wheel polish?
Oh Jeeze, I got paint cutting polishing compound...
rocknrollrich
Most Honored Senior Member
The polishing wheel is really non destructive. I think it's probably made of cotton? I could be mistaken on that, but my point being, you would have to almost try to do damage to something.
It certainly won't harm a rosewood board. Maple I do tape up, buy really that's just to avoid any coloration of the wood.
It's nut the polishing wheel that's the problem. It's when you slip and bang the chuck into the frets and/or fretboard.
rocknrollrich
Most Honored Senior Member
Oh yes. That would definitely be bad.
All you have to do to remove the steel wolf fibers off the pickups is to either use a bench broom to brush off the top of the guitar after steel wool. Or use a brush attachment on a shop vac. It takes less than 2 seconds.
bam-boozle
Strat-Talk Member
Gorgomyte
That's my finishing move. It's the only way I can get them really smooth.
Ianguk
New Member!
Try Silver Polish. You can get it impregnated onto a wool /insulation type material. Should work nicely.
Guitar Hobbyist
Strat-Talk Member
Same here although I use masking tape over the pickups. Don’t do it on guitars often but on my Jazz Bass I do it after every yearly restringing with roundwound strings. But having been the only owner of this bass for over 45 years, I getting really close to it becoming a fretless.
