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Removing plastic fret inserts


BassBus
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As there are so many of you who have a lot of knowledge about the construction of instruments someone might be able to help me. 

I have an LTD B205 fretless which has plastic fret inserts in the slots. I recently dressed the fingerboard with a radius sanding block and that transformed the bass from a mediocre fretless to one that produces the most mind blowing fretless sound, for me anyway. 

However, it appears that a lot of the plastic inserts are not stuck in properly and have started to rise up out of the board. What would be the best way to take them out altogether? I have the idea in my head of placing a towel over the neck and applying gentle heat with an iron and gently lifting them out. Is that sensible?

I'd be grateful for any advice. Ta for now.

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I imagine they are super glued in. Applying heat will loosen, but will also loosen your fretboard potentially.

Personally I would use a fret saw to saw the slots and sort the removal issue out that way. The plastic (polystyrene most likely) should be softer than the wood, so low risk of damaging anything.

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18 minutes ago, HazBeen said:

I imagine they are super glued in. Applying heat will loosen, but will also loosen your fretboard potentially.

Personally I would use a fret saw to saw the slots and sort the removal issue out that way. The plastic (polystyrene most likely) should be softer than the wood, so low risk of damaging anything.

I had been looking into fret saws so with your comment on the fingerboard I think that's the way to go. Thanks.

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