Fret polishing kits

[Grassie]

Hi folks,

Any recommendations for fret polishing kits? I’ve just acquired a Highway One Jazz and the frets are, quite frankly, grim. That bloke Paul from Milehouse Studios (check out his YT channel, highly entertaining) would have a field day with this particular bass…

What are you guys using…?

[neepheid]

Fine steel wool.  Yes, keep it away from pickups...

[AMV001]

8000 grit micro mesh polishing cloths.

[ezbass]

I bought this kit to sort out a badly finished guitar. Also bought a fret end file (via Amazon IIRC).

https://www.chrisalsopguitar.co.uk/shop/fret-polishing-kit-TA001?srsltid=AfmBOorVl_vE5B6EGi0Scw-TSn6ersupz69YEJCFtoAmfhoBpHhARlEX

[Delberthot]

I normally just mask off the fretboard and use 000 steel wool on the frets

[PaulThePlug]

0000 (Four) Wire Wool

Solvo and dremell mop,

and if alrightish, those nail polishing 4 sided sponges. 

[Dan Dare]

17 hours ago, neepheid said:

Fine steel wool.  Yes, keep it away from pickups...

 

This. Cover the pickups with masking tape or they will be coated in fine steel fur for ever. Clean the board with meths, naphtha or similar when you're done with the steel wool, wipe down with a suitable thin oil and all will be luverly.

Edited 18 hours ago by Dan Dare

[Hellzero]

 

The impregnated cloth on the left is simply amazing to polish anything metallic (it was designed for jewellery), the buffing cloth on the right is subsidiary, but works very well too.

 

Since I bought this kit, the Dremel with the polishing wheel and buffing paste are remaining in the case.

[rwillett]

1 hour ago, Hellzero said:

Since I bought this kit, the Dremel with the polishing wheel and buffing paste are remaining in the case.

 

I have the dremel and polishing wheel as well. Might look at this as well. 

[Buddster]

If you're doing it, I'd suggest putting masking tape over the wood of the fretboard. 

 

[PaulThePlug]

If you run a length of tape up each side of the neck along the fretboard edge, [First, before the across pieces...] you can then peel the across fret bits of tape off in a one-er...

 

I use one of those thin metal fret shields.

Edited 18 hours ago by PaulThePlug

[ossyrocks]

Lots of people here recommending masking off the board. Yes, I would do that, but only if the board is lacquered maple. If it's rosewood, then fine wire wool works well for cleaning up the board too. Sometimes there's a lot of gunk accumulation either side of the fret and the wire wool helps to remove it. For really bad gunk build up, then a new stanley blade, scraped very gently from the side of the fret, in the direction of the grain can help. Once done, a bit of lemon oil will feed the rosewood and make it less dry.

 

Rob

[Buddster]

39 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

If you run a length of tape up each side of the neck along the fretboard edge, you can then peel the across fret bits of tape off in a one-er...

 

I use one of those thin metal fret shields.

I like that idea. It's a pain to take them off individually 

[Mike Brooks]

A set of Fret Guards (Music Nomad) and a set of fret erasers. A tin of Nevr Dull for super-shiny frets.

[PaulThePlug]

I just found this on AliExpress: 
￡2.65 | Guitar Fret Wire Sanding Stone Protector Kit Finger Plate Radian Polishing DIY Luthier Tool Guitar Bass Parts
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyxuHO6

 

...and handy for a fret board clean without removing strings...

I just found this on AliExpress: 
￡1.34 | 2Pcs Metal String Spreaders Guitar Luthier Tool for Cleaning Fretboard Yellow
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQTZWmm

 

[casapete]

8 minutes ago, Mike Brooks said:

A set of Fret Guards (Music Nomad) and a set of fret erasers. A tin of Nevr Dull for super-shiny frets.

I’ve not heard of Nevr Dull before, but a quick Google shows it to appear to be very similar to

Duraglit, which I’ve used for years with good results. It’s now owned by Brasso, and marketed

as Brasso ‘with Duraglit’ I believe. Easy to use and no mess. 
 

2 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

If you run a length of tape up each side of the neck along the fretboard edge, [First, before the across pieces...] you can then peel the across fret bits of tape off in a one-er...

 

 

Great idea, will try that next time - thanks. 

[Buddster]

1 hour ago, PaulThePlug said:

.and handy for a fret board clean without removing strings...

I just found this on AliExpress: 
￡1.34 | 2Pcs Metal String Spreaders Guitar Luthier Tool for Cleaning Fretboard Yellow
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQTZWmm

 

Those are very useful and well worth buying.

Other retailers are available 

[super al]

I'm looking at this thread and wondering if I did the right thing today.

 

I picked up a Yamaha RBX 170 for free this morning, the fretboard and frets were all mucky (and the jack socket hanging off as well!) so I used a damp cloth and a plastic scraper on the board and it came up lovely.

 

I found some Pink Stuff cleaning paste in the kitchen and an old sock to apply it with and went to town on the frets. After that I cleaned up both the frets and board with Dunlop no 65 polish n cleaner then Fast Fretted it...after that I put on my shades as the frets were blinding me 😎

 

Once I'd done a little set up with new strings she sounds sweet, this bass is so light and the neck feels beautiful to play, I can't believe my luck! My nipper is learning bass so I've donated it to him...but I shall be picking her up now and then. Thoroughly recommend the Pink Stuff paste though 👍🏻

 

[Kiwi]

The process I use is 
1) 320 wet and dry
2) 600 wet and dry
3) 1500 wet and dry
4) Mini dremel-style multitool (chinese made) fitted with polishing felt disc and some buffing compound.

 

It gets the frets mirror shiny but not as sparklingly mirror shiny as the best I've seen but it's good enough for me.

 

The masking takes as long to do as the rest of the work so I've started using those metal slot guards instead.  So far so good.