I ground the face of a pair of old side cutters so the jaws have a single sharp edge instead of the normal vee edge they have. They do cut all frets off fairly clean. I made a guide for my table sander to sand the ends of the frets square, then sand the bevel on the ends. I pre make the frets to fit for all fingerboards bound or unbound and even dress the sharp ends with a small fret stone. It doesn’t take too long once you in the swing of it and no needs to file the ends and potentially mark or damage the finger board edges once they are installed. Looks more professional with the ends set back slightly from the fret board edge as well.
I have these same cutters. In fact, the only cutters I've bought for this job (and this job only), and they're still going strong after a few years. For the higher frets, say after 12, they don't cut perfectly flush, as there's not enough room for the bulky cutter head to fit between the tighter fret spacing. Mind you, I buy and install pre-cut wire so they're longer than what some folks may be installing. Solution: after around the 12th fret, I'll install even number frets only, let the CA dry, then cut off the excess width, then go back and install the odd number frets. That way I can get as flush as possible and reduce time filing to flush. Think they were about $40 CAD when I purchased (say around $30 USD). Word of advice: only buy cutters that can cut stainless steel wire.
I own both Hosco and StewMac nippers and I like StewMac more - they are wider, leave smaller tang end after cut and do a pleasant click when cutting. But Hosco are ok too, hope they will last longer than StewMac - their ends on both sides of one jaw chipped after cutting about 80 stainless stell fret tangs.
@@HighlineGuitars I'd like to, but unfortunately I live in Russia, which is in disgrace from the whole Western world and no orders, shipments etc. are available now from US to us)) I bought my StewMac nippers about 4 years ago, but had not used them with stainless steel fretwire untill recently, only nickel silver. With ordinary fretwire I think they will last forever.
Thank u for this video im actually looking at that particular brand hosco cutter. Im relieved to know that its really reliable when it comes to cutting frets stainless in particular cheers🎉
Greetings from your fan in China. Check out the Japanese brand kingTTC en-210 end nippers. I bought one for about 12 US dollars. I works perfectly with stainless steel frets.
Idk how this review is going to be but this fret cutter is still going strong and i use only stainless steel frets ... .. i don't know how long it will last but it's my 2nd year now after i bought it
Question Please: Would this Hosco tool also be good for removing/pulling frets? If not, what tool would you recommend? Thanks and I gave you a Sub. Phil
Thanks again for the great video. I wanna get a plan from you some day but I just finished my first week without work after leaving a job...so...not much moneys -_-
Putting all that leverage against your hip can't be good for your hip! I've been looking for a set of fret cutters (I'm slowly teaching myself guitar maintenance) and saw the Hosco's on eBay, then your video popped up on the front of my UA-cam. I'm definitely going to get a set of these soon!
@@HighlineGuitars can you send a up close pic, mine looks just like the pictures on the hosco website, but its not as flush as those pittsburgs you have
Looks like you can't order them from CE Manufacturing unless you're a customer. You can't create an account with them unless you are a business as far as I can tell. Out of stock everywhere else.
thanks for sharing your insight... 'building' / 'assembling' my first guitar and knowing what tools pros use is very helpful
Glad it was helpful!
Good review. The Hosco tools I have are good. Right now i use a Stewmac fret nipper but wouldn't hesitate to get the Hosco if i need a replacement.
I ground the face of a pair of old side cutters so the jaws have a single sharp edge instead of the normal vee edge they have. They do cut all frets off fairly clean. I made a guide for my table sander to sand the ends of the frets square, then sand the bevel on the ends. I pre make the frets to fit for all fingerboards bound or unbound and even dress the sharp ends with a small fret stone. It doesn’t take too long once you in the swing of it and no needs to file the ends and potentially mark or damage the finger board edges once they are installed. Looks more professional with the ends set back slightly from the fret board edge as well.
I have these same cutters. In fact, the only cutters I've bought for this job (and this job only), and they're still going strong after a few years. For the higher frets, say after 12, they don't cut perfectly flush, as there's not enough room for the bulky cutter head to fit between the tighter fret spacing. Mind you, I buy and install pre-cut wire so they're longer than what some folks may be installing. Solution: after around the 12th fret, I'll install even number frets only, let the CA dry, then cut off the excess width, then go back and install the odd number frets. That way I can get as flush as possible and reduce time filing to flush.
Think they were about $40 CAD when I purchased (say around $30 USD). Word of advice: only buy cutters that can cut stainless steel wire.
I precut each fret to length before installation.
Good tip about cutting alternate frets, thank you.
@@HighlineGuitars Also a good tip, thank you too!
Thanks Chris, just ordered the cutters for $39.95 + ship at Amplified Parts, a sister co of CE that sells retail.
I own both Hosco and StewMac nippers and I like StewMac more - they are wider, leave smaller tang end after cut and do a pleasant click when cutting. But Hosco are ok too, hope they will last longer than StewMac - their ends on both sides of one jaw chipped after cutting about 80 stainless stell fret tangs.
Ask StewMac for a new one.
@@HighlineGuitars I'd like to, but unfortunately I live in Russia, which is in disgrace from the whole Western world and no orders, shipments etc. are available now from US to us)) I bought my StewMac nippers about 4 years ago, but had not used them with stainless steel fretwire untill recently, only nickel silver. With ordinary fretwire I think they will last forever.
Thanks. Perfect timing as I'm looking at doing a refret soon.
Thank u for this video im actually looking at that particular brand hosco cutter. Im relieved to know that its really reliable when it comes to cutting frets stainless in particular cheers🎉
Just bought one, hope i'll never need to buy another ever again!
Could you do a video where you buy wood? How you select it. Where do you get parts?
It's in the queue.
Guess I'll try these out after my StewMac cutters failed with SS...even though it was advertised as being strong enough to cut SS.
I cut my frets with a cutoff wheel on my Dremel as I install them. I get nice clean cuts, and save about 5" of fret wire per neck.
One slip and... YIKES!
great video, thanks. Is it hard to cut frets with regular fret cutter/plyer ...?
Greetings from your fan in China.
Check out the Japanese brand kingTTC en-210 end nippers. I bought one for about 12 US dollars.
I works perfectly with stainless steel frets.
Idk how this review is going to be but this fret cutter is still going strong and i use only stainless steel frets ... .. i don't know how long it will last but it's my 2nd year now after i bought it
The pivot system on the Hosco looks a lot more like you would find on bolt cutters.
I wish that you could check prices without being registered
Available on Amazon.
@@Doug_Seidlitz cool thanks I was just following the provided link
@@Doug_Seidlitz I'm not seeing these exact model number I'm seeing the 190
Question Please:
Would this Hosco tool also be good for removing/pulling frets? If not, what tool would you recommend? Thanks and I gave you a Sub.
Phil
Can I use these nippers to cut fret tangs for fretboards with binding or filled slot ends?
Good question, but no. I mean, you could, but it would be very difficult and there are tools specifically for that purpose.
I’ve been trying to find this cutter but the availability is really poor at the moment.
Great video!
Thanks again for the great video. I wanna get a plan from you some day but I just finished my first week without work after leaving a job...so...not much moneys -_-
Putting all that leverage against your hip can't be good for your hip! I've been looking for a set of fret cutters (I'm slowly teaching myself guitar maintenance) and saw the Hosco's on eBay, then your video popped up on the front of my UA-cam. I'm definitely going to get a set of these soon!
A jar of dirt? Is the jar of dirt going to help?
?
WTH, i just bought this tool, but mine are not flush!!!
Bummer. Mine are.
@@HighlineGuitars can you send a up close pic, mine looks just like the pictures on the hosco website, but its not as flush as those pittsburgs you have
Looks like you can't order them from CE Manufacturing unless you're a customer. You can't create an account with them unless you are a business as far as I can tell. Out of stock everywhere else.
Try Guitars&woods sites (G&W