100% ... Fret press all the way. I have the Stewmac one and it is worth every cent. So much so, that once or twice, no levelling was required. Wish that was the case all the time, but I will take the occasional victory 💜💜💜💜💜💜 Sarah
good info, thanks. I've 'fretted' for some time over buying an arbor press since hammering in the frets on my first four necks has sucked (the last two being jatoba, making it all the more difficult to achieve evenly). though I make as may jigs and tools as I can, the cost of yet another expensive single-use tool has held me back - but I think its finally time.....
You have me convinced to move to a press! The few necks I have done with a plastic hammer resulted in frets all bashed up and needing much more dressing. I will go with the caul holder and use it with my drill press. ❤
I worked for an incredibly skilled luthier (RIP) that fretted with a hammer. Grudgingly measured anything. Mostly eyed things up. It worked for him. Crafter wonderful instruments. Proud to own three. But quickly realized I'm not him. Now I'm an engineer and measure everything. Darn sure don't try to hammer in frets.
the drill press does handle the stew mac caul really well. I'm also clearly pressing too hard and I have nothing but hate for CA glue in this process. Unless I'm trying to glue my fingers to the fretboard.
Man, you haven't posted a video I haven't loved! Thank you for all of the info you share. I'm not sure where'd I'd be in this journey without this channel as a resource!
Ive tried a drill press insert for pressing frets and a "jaws" knock off without much luck... I think a hammer is better than those options. Would love to get a dedicated press one day
I hate hammers. I actually use a 2 ton press with the typical mount. Just about the same as the arbor press. Most of the time my frets are perfectly aligned. Absolute minimum leveling if any.
Hey Matt great video. I dont comment on videos much I mostly watch to learn. So I say fret your necks dont fret the negative comments. Really liked the reveal video on Friday American Icons are just gorgeous!
I think the REAL reason people use hammers is simple. A press is easier. And yeah, it works better, but harder-to-use is preferred because it makes people feel like they matter. I don't even have a press, but I'd never use a hammer. I use an old radiusing block, take off my shoe, and STAND on it. Same pressure every time, as long as I don't drink too much :D Nobody can bash frets in with a hammer as well as even a complete newb can press them in with a press. And a better job of fretting, means less work levelling. The entire point of a tool, is to remove as much work and as much skill as possible from the process. The perfect tool does the job while you sleep, and does it better than you can. And anyone who disagrees with that, shouldn't be using tools. They should use their hands for everything. Including banging in nails.
I went to luthier school 30 od years ago, and it was still very common to come across frets without toothy tangs, and many mandolins and banjos had solid tombstone wire. I've done it with a hammer since day one. Bound necks I only use the press. Old maple fingerboards are in my opinion sometimes are better having them tapped in, then very gently pressed. Old jazz boxes with square wire, hammer every time. . Some materials prefer to be subjected to repeat short forces than high force over a longer time frame. INCLUDING FINISHISES!
@@nucleargrizzly1776 SO glad you asked... Here is a link to a wonderful website full of great information. www.danarmstrong.org/necks2.html Here is a blurb... Years later Dan said "I was never one to hammer in frets into the fingerboard. I really don't believe in using a hammer on any guitar and especially not for installing frets. The hammering 'blows' affect the wood, shocks it - if you get my meaning". It also weakens the fret itself. These things may sound trivial, but a player or anyone else with a fine ear, can hear dead spots on instruments fretted like this when the instrument is played. I did everything I could do to make my guitars ring and sustain like a steel guitar, with no dead spots. Thats why we pressed our frets in place." Luthier Bill Richardson, who studied under Dan agrees, saying "I agree with Dan that using a metal hammer can dull the metals strength but the real problem is hammering the heck out of the slot just makes for an unpredictable and slightly loose slot, no matter how hard ya hit it - it will never seat properly and when ya wanna hit that note, it don't ring at all. Dan taught me to tap on the frets with the end of a 6" ruler and listen for a 'solid' sound and when ya hear a dulled lower pitched one...ya got a loose fret. Now when that happens ya certainly can't level any frets as the loose ones just keep rising up and you have a total nightmare on your hands ...let alone a bunch of instruments coming down the assembly line." He continues stating "pressing them in using an arbor press like Dan did, and as I do, one gets a better feel on the install and Dan's real point was to not mess with the tensile strength of the metal. After you mutate a fret and mess with its strength and say, pull it out and straighten it out and try to reinstall it - it never goes in the same. Did ya ever pull out a bent nail and try to straighten it out and re-pound it...even after ya made it look straight? It never goes and bends exactly at the original fatigued point. Also, very important to Dan was if this pressing in was done right you would eliminate the dreaded filing/levelling of frets, which in a production scenario is a big time saver (very important to bean counters)."
@@TexasToastGuitars I'm certain you're a shill, I guess you're going to pretend you don't have any affiliation with Stew Mac LOL you could have just stayed quiet instead of proving you're a joke LOL
100% ... Fret press all the way. I have the Stewmac one and it is worth every cent. So much so, that once or twice, no levelling was required. Wish that was the case all the time, but I will take the occasional victory 💜💜💜💜💜💜 Sarah
Hi Sarah, you got that right my friend
Matt, really enjoying the series - appreciate so much the time you spend to do these videos for us! - Cheers from Canada
Glad you like them Dan, thanks brother.
good info, thanks. I've 'fretted' for some time over buying an arbor press since hammering in the frets on my first four necks has sucked (the last two being jatoba, making it all the more difficult to achieve evenly). though I make as may jigs and tools as I can, the cost of yet another expensive single-use tool has held me back - but I think its finally time.....
You have me convinced to move to a press! The few necks I have done with a plastic hammer resulted in frets all bashed up and needing much more dressing. I will go with the caul holder and use it with my drill press. ❤
You won't be disappointed
I worked for an incredibly skilled luthier (RIP) that fretted with a hammer. Grudgingly measured anything. Mostly eyed things up. It worked for him. Crafter wonderful instruments. Proud to own three. But quickly realized I'm not him. Now I'm an engineer and measure everything. Darn sure don't try to hammer in frets.
I'm sure there are guys who are good with a hammer.
its more work, whether you're great at it or not, but I can imagine your mentor going to town pretty fast with the hammer in one hand the whole time.
@@michaelmenkes8085 He did a lot of work on archtops (New Orleans). Never could figure out how he fretted over the delicate top.
the drill press does handle the stew mac caul really well. I'm also clearly pressing too hard and I have nothing but hate for CA glue in this process. Unless I'm trying to glue my fingers to the fretboard.
Man, you haven't posted a video I haven't loved! Thank you for all of the info you share. I'm not sure where'd I'd be in this journey without this channel as a resource!
Ive tried a drill press insert for pressing frets and a "jaws" knock off without much luck... I think a hammer is better than those options. Would love to get a dedicated press one day
100% correct… I’ve put more than a couple dents in the board, it’s easy to miss what your aiming at…
You're not a real guitar builder if your fret bender isn't permanently mounted the bench.😁
Mine isn't
I hate hammers. I actually use a 2 ton press with the typical mount. Just about the same as the arbor press. Most of the time my frets are perfectly aligned. Absolute minimum leveling if any.
I like your style my friend
What’s wrong with hammers from Home Depot 😂😂😂
I'm just glad us drill press guys are cool too. 😆
I use a 20t hydraulic press and I have broken every neck I've ever made 😯
I'm sorry
I'm going to ask my wife to buy me one for arbor day. That's what it's for, right?
Hey Matt great video. I dont comment on videos much I mostly watch to learn. So I say fret your necks dont fret the negative comments. Really liked the reveal video on Friday American Icons are just gorgeous!
Thanks so much John
Thanks Matt, for another informative video, keep them coming. I thought thin CA was the way to go. Can't wait till I come out in May for the workshop.
Me too Pete
My stewmac press was my first serious investment into guitar building. So worth every penny
Totally
I cracked one block inlay hammering in a fret, and as soon as I quit crying, I ordered an arbor press.
I feel your pain my friend
I made my breakfast exactly like you did about 20 years ago
I made my fret press
Cuz I don't know what you had for breakfast 20 years ago
@@tompiano6871 According to our records...Pop Tarts. We don't know which flavor.
I'd imagine it is still chugging right along
The press is a better tool. Even pressure and a lot less time involved. Time = $.
You know that's right my friend
I think the REAL reason people use hammers is simple. A press is easier. And yeah, it works better, but harder-to-use is preferred because it makes people feel like they matter. I don't even have a press, but I'd never use a hammer. I use an old radiusing block, take off my shoe, and STAND on it. Same pressure every time, as long as I don't drink too much :D
Nobody can bash frets in with a hammer as well as even a complete newb can press them in with a press. And a better job of fretting, means less work levelling.
The entire point of a tool, is to remove as much work and as much skill as possible from the process. The perfect tool does the job while you sleep, and does it better than you can. And anyone who disagrees with that, shouldn't be using tools. They should use their hands for everything. Including banging in nails.
I went to luthier school 30 od years ago, and it was still very common to come across frets without toothy tangs, and many mandolins and banjos had solid tombstone wire. I've done it with a hammer since day one. Bound necks I only use the press. Old maple fingerboards are in my opinion sometimes are better having them tapped in, then very gently pressed. Old jazz boxes with square wire, hammer every time. . Some materials prefer to be subjected to repeat short forces than high force over a longer time frame. INCLUDING FINISHISES!
@@carnage77 The luthier I worked for started in the late 60's. There was no such thing as a fret press. He hammered in frets as well.
Someone should go back in time and let Dan Armstrong know that the press he used in the late 60's didn't exist
@@TexasToastGuitars Learned something new today. Was it commercially available of something he thought up?
@@nucleargrizzly1776 SO glad you asked...
Here is a link to a wonderful website full of great information.
www.danarmstrong.org/necks2.html
Here is a blurb...
Years later Dan said "I was never one to hammer in frets into the fingerboard. I really don't believe in using a hammer on any guitar and especially not for installing frets. The hammering 'blows' affect the wood, shocks it - if you get my meaning". It also weakens the fret itself. These things may sound trivial, but a player or anyone else with a fine ear, can hear dead spots on instruments fretted like this when the instrument is played. I did everything I could do to make my guitars ring and sustain like a steel guitar, with no dead spots. Thats why we pressed our frets in place."
Luthier Bill Richardson, who studied under Dan agrees, saying "I agree with Dan that using a metal hammer can dull the metals strength but the real problem is hammering the heck out of the slot just makes for an unpredictable and slightly loose slot, no matter how hard ya hit it - it will never seat properly and when ya wanna hit that note, it don't ring at all. Dan taught me to tap on the frets with the end of a 6" ruler and listen for a 'solid' sound and when ya hear a dulled lower pitched one...ya got a loose fret. Now when that happens ya certainly can't level any frets as the loose ones just keep rising up and you have a total nightmare on your hands ...let alone a bunch of instruments coming down the assembly line."
He continues stating "pressing them in using an arbor press like Dan did, and as I do, one gets a better feel on the install and Dan's real point was to not mess with the tensile strength of the metal. After you mutate a fret and mess with its strength and say, pull it out and straighten it out and try to reinstall it - it never goes in the same. Did ya ever pull out a bent nail and try to straighten it out and re-pound it...even after ya made it look straight? It never goes and bends exactly at the original fatigued point. Also, very important to Dan was if this pressing in was done right you would eliminate the dreaded filing/levelling of frets, which in a production scenario is a big time saver (very important to bean counters)."
Such good information...
Thank you...
You are certainly welcome
"If you don't use this expensive press from Stew Mac that isn't even available, you're doing it wrong" LOL okay, shill
I'm certain I said that you didn't have to use that tool in the video. Maybe you didn't watch that part?
@@TexasToastGuitars I'm certain you're a shill, I guess you're going to pretend you don't have any affiliation with Stew Mac LOL you could have just stayed quiet instead of proving you're a joke LOL