I found crocus cloth at Lowe's or similar to really polish frets once clean. The cheap multi-grit fingernail poliishing sticks are easy to control and cheap to buy.
I used to think the same. Angry for the prices. But Stewmax is the deal. You pay an annual fee, FREE shipping. If I need a screw I pay the .20 cents for the screw and it’s at my house two days later. I’ve been using the same fret erasers for two years now. Many, many guitars. And not having to use sandpaper saves green.
@@Thomasdgolden For a real paid Luthier 100% as they are the Snap On tools of the Guitar world but for mere mortals who will do this a few times in their life not really worth it.
It's a one time purchase, like my Fretboard cleaner/revitalizer, I'll have the bottle the rest of my life, and the almost audible sigh of relief from my Bass a few hours after applying it was worth it. and every time you change your strings you can give them a wipe.
Fret erasers have been a godsend for me. I do a lot of fretwork at my shop and the repolish is always painful. Not only that but done correctly, it looks SO GOOD that I can’t skimp...and I’d watch my hourly rate dip and dip as I went. I started off with a 2000 grit eraser since that’s just a transitory step, not as crucial as the earlier grits that get rid of marks or the later finishing touch stuff. It was cool but I thought it wore down quickly. I didn’t understand that the entire thing was abrasive, not just the outside. They make life sooooooooo much easier and you don’t necessarily have to go stew mac. There are some decent ones from japan, etc that you can get, somewhat cheaply, off eBay.
I've been back and forth on purchasing the fret erasers... I have used fingernail boards from the supply shop which come in grits up to 12000. But I think you just sold me on the Stew Mac set! like yourself, I've looked online at other erasers but they don't seem as quality as the SM ones! Polished frets are happy frets!
IMO opinion what you are often paying for is high quality tools that will last a life time and save you time and money from searching for a cheaper tool of similar quality. High quality as in accurate, the edges are smoother then my eBay tools, they will last me a lifetime if they aren’t wearable like these erasers, I’ve bought competitor tools and found it hit and miss, they’re heavy duty. You will end up spending as much or more by the time you find a product as good because of the hit and miss factor from other companies. There’s a saying I heard recently “buy nice or buy twice” which I find really applies to these niche guitar tools. You’ll have these dependable tools in your toolbox for the rest of your life. When you think about it like that, then the pricing seems fair.
I have found that I use the blue (think it's the #180) more than anything. Some of the higher grits are kind of pointless. I build almost all with stainless, however on the few nickel/silver frets I've done they all seem to do the job well.
I bought the pack of seven fret erasers. 220 thru 8000. I've leveled and recrowned the frets on my cheap Bullet Strat($50).I want to get my frets down to a very sharp mirror finish. If one pass of the fret eraser is one stroke of the fret,. About how many passes of each grit would I need to get that mirror finish in your experience? Also, if I see marks left by my crowning tool. Am I to use the 220 u till those marks are destroyed and then move on to all the other grits or what?
Hey man! Thanks for the video - I decided to pull the plug, and ordered the set of these fret erasers. I'm looking forward to using them, but I would like to ask you.. Do they really polish all the way up to a nice and mirror-like shine?? Thanks :-) Regards & Cheers!
I had same issue with bits of sandpaper, fingers all cramped up. Solution was to wrap the sandpaper around a school eraser - you can buy a pack of three at Staples or wherever for a couple bucks. Up to 2000 grit, finish up with Neverdull or fine metal polish. I also like the micro-mesh pads used by wood/pen turners, which StewMac sells, from 4000 up to 12000. Not so hard on the fingers anymore.
Okay, I’m just learning but I found them massively time consuming and too much labor when doing an entire fretboard. I with the same set of StewMac erasers went through each grit and it’d take 6min a fret. Even if I got it down to 4 minutes that’s wayyyy too much time if I have an entire fretboard to do for profit. Any tips? Do you just go from the 220 to get tool marks out to 1200 and up from there? I also wasn’t impressed with the shine. The results were a typical factory standard fender finish but they don’t produce “Wow” type results to give a customer that money well spent type feeling so they more easily return. After doing one guitar I’m 100% already looking to abandon them and looking into using a Dremel polish wheel.
Great info, thanks so much. No biggie, but I suggest skipping the background music. I kept thinking there was some other pop up window open on my browser. lol.
BigDGuitars - in my opinion these erasers aren't shop used at all. Sure Erlewine & co are shown in the videos using it, but they are targeted more towards meticulous owners who like to spend extra time tidying their instruments. It is a niche product
seasonedtoker If u haven’t tried them don’t knock ‘em. They work great. I️ still get hand cramps running through the grits but the frets tops r perfect.
Baroque has great fret erasers for $19 for 3 (180, 400, 1000) or $29 for a full 5 step pack.
I found crocus cloth at Lowe's or similar to really polish frets once clean. The cheap multi-grit fingernail poliishing sticks are easy to control and cheap to buy.
At $57 for a set of fret erasers, Stew Mac is clearly a bunch of bandits.
THat make some incredible time saving tools, though. As a pro luthier, they pay for themselves.
I used to think the same. Angry for the prices. But Stewmax is the deal. You pay an annual fee, FREE shipping. If I need a screw I pay the .20 cents for the screw and it’s at my house two days later. I’ve been using the same fret erasers for two years now. Many, many guitars. And not having to use sandpaper saves green.
@@Thomasdgolden For a real paid Luthier 100% as they are the Snap On tools of the Guitar world but for mere mortals who will do this a few times in their life not really worth it.
The industry os corrupt.
Just buy pencil erasers &6 grade buff compound kit Amazon $11
Just buy pencil erasers &6 grade buff compound kit Amazon $11
It's a one time purchase, like my Fretboard cleaner/revitalizer, I'll have the bottle the rest of my life, and the almost audible sigh of relief from my Bass a few hours after applying it was worth it. and every time you change your strings you can give them a wipe.
Damn that's a nice guitar.
Love your channel!
Fret erasers have been a godsend for me. I do a lot of fretwork at my shop and the repolish is always painful. Not only that but done correctly, it looks SO GOOD that I can’t skimp...and I’d watch my hourly rate dip and dip as I went.
I started off with a 2000 grit eraser since that’s just a transitory step, not as crucial as the earlier grits that get rid of marks or the later finishing touch stuff. It was cool but I thought it wore down quickly. I didn’t understand that the entire thing was abrasive, not just the outside. They make life sooooooooo much easier and you don’t necessarily have to go stew mac. There are some decent ones from japan, etc that you can get, somewhat cheaply, off eBay.
I use the one's I have ALL the time. I wish I had a more complete set like yours. Maybe once YT turn back on the money tap;-)
yea hopefully I have tons of view over xmas. need too much stuff!
That's a gorgeous guitar! Wow!
Great for Jewelry and triggers too!
Good to know, thanks D!
Quick tip if no one has mentioned. If the erasers are getting worn and really bad and you can use a stone bench grinder to give it new life
I've been back and forth on purchasing the fret erasers... I have used fingernail boards from the supply shop which come in grits up to 12000. But I think you just sold me on the Stew Mac set! like yourself, I've looked online at other erasers but they don't seem as quality as the SM ones! Polished frets are happy frets!
Do you really need to buy ANYTHING from Stew Mac?
Heck no. Stew Mac just buys stuff from the same places we can and marks the prices way up.
@@johndeaux3703 Whete do they buy the polishing rubbers?
IMO opinion what you are often paying for is high quality tools that will last a life time and save you time and money from searching for a cheaper tool of similar quality. High quality as in accurate, the edges are smoother then my eBay tools, they will last me a lifetime if they aren’t wearable like these erasers, I’ve bought competitor tools and found it hit and miss, they’re heavy duty. You will end up spending as much or more by the time you find a product as good because of the hit and miss factor from other companies. There’s a saying I heard recently “buy nice or buy twice” which I find really applies to these niche guitar tools. You’ll have these dependable tools in your toolbox for the rest of your life. When you think about it like that, then the pricing seems fair.
When the fret erasers get black after a couple of uses, how do you clean them?
I have found that I use the blue (think it's the #180) more than anything. Some of the higher grits are kind of pointless. I build almost all with stainless, however on the few nickel/silver frets I've done they all seem to do the job well.
I have fret erasers and they do great. But but yourselves mesh sandpaper. You'll be satisfied better and it's cheaper and less mess than using erasers
I bought the pack of seven fret erasers. 220 thru 8000. I've leveled and recrowned the frets on my cheap Bullet Strat($50).I want to get my frets down to a very sharp mirror finish. If one pass of the fret eraser is one stroke of the fret,. About how many passes of each grit would I need to get that mirror finish in your experience? Also, if I see marks left by my crowning tool. Am I to use the 220 u till those marks are destroyed and then move on to all the other grits or what?
Thanks for the video. Will these smooth out the frets for easier/better feeling when bending? Or are they just to shine the frets up?
If someone leaves off at 800 steel wool, what grit fret eraser would be the next step?
Tennessee!
Hey man!
Thanks for the video - I decided to pull the plug, and ordered the set of these fret erasers. I'm looking forward to using them, but I would like to ask you.. Do they really polish all the way up to a nice and mirror-like shine??
Thanks :-)
Regards & Cheers!
cool!!!
Indeed cool! I have now tested the Fret Erasers and they do indeed polish to a nice mirror-like shine. I'm very happy with the purchase!
Cheers! :-)
I had same issue with bits of sandpaper, fingers all cramped up. Solution was to wrap the sandpaper around a school eraser - you can buy a pack of three at Staples or wherever for a couple bucks. Up to 2000 grit, finish up with Neverdull or fine metal polish. I also like the micro-mesh pads used by wood/pen turners, which StewMac sells, from 4000 up to 12000. Not so hard on the fingers anymore.
good idea!
Just buy pencil erasers &6 grade buff compound kit Amazon $11
Okay, I’m just learning but I found them massively time consuming and too much labor when doing an entire fretboard. I with the same set of StewMac erasers went through each grit and it’d take 6min a fret. Even if I got it down to 4 minutes that’s wayyyy too much time if I have an entire fretboard to do for profit. Any tips? Do you just go from the 220 to get tool marks out to 1200 and up from there? I also wasn’t impressed with the shine. The results were a typical factory standard fender finish but they don’t produce “Wow” type results to give a customer that money well spent type feeling so they more easily return.
After doing one guitar I’m 100% already looking to abandon them and looking into using a Dremel polish wheel.
I use a dremel with green polish. I can polish a whole neck in no time. Mirror shine.
The most time consuming thing is taping the neck off.
@@edwardmonsariste4050 thanks. I’m definitely going to try out using a Dremel
Is the 4 pack on eBay good enough?
Yea it’s a good start
Do the fret erasers just have grit on the surface, or do they have the grit impregnated throughout the eraser material? Thanks
both. as you use them there is more grit. Love the product
You asked the question and didn't answer it...do i really need all the grits?
From 150 grit to 1000?
Great info, thanks so much. No biggie, but I suggest skipping the background music. I kept thinking there was some other pop up window open on my browser. lol.
Gotcha
How to shmaer guitar
You don't. I dress the frets with P600-P1000, then polish them on my buffer with Menzerna's P175. Shinier than British royal silverware.
buffing helps a ton. my hands hurt so I needed something else.
BigDGuitars - in my opinion these erasers aren't shop used at all. Sure Erlewine & co are shown in the videos using it, but they are targeted more towards meticulous owners who like to spend extra time tidying their instruments. It is a niche product
I don't know, I just used the shit out of mine last weekend. I did 5 fret jobs.
seasonedtoker If u haven’t tried them don’t knock ‘em. They work great. I️ still get hand cramps running through the grits but the frets tops r perfect.
I love my fret erasers, but I donçt use the Stewman ones, I have a Hosco set.