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Deering Crossfire: Sharp Fret Ends


1. Sharp Fret Ends. The tang (sub- surface portion) of these fret ends are actually even against the side of the fretboard. The fret crown, however, is not. Therefore, all I'll have to do is file the beveled ends of the frets back and dress the fret ends.	2. A Modified Mill File is the tool I'll be using to file these fret ends. When the collectability and or aesthetics of an instrument are a serious concern, I'll file each fret end individually with a triangular (cross section) file with safe edges. This approach leaves the finish unharmed but is more time consuming and therefore, more costly.


3. Filing the Fret Ends. I'm care- fully mimicking the bevel angle of the fret ends as they are now. This banjo does not appear to have had any previous fretwork done so it's my best guess that this bevel angle is the Deering companies standard fret end bevel. Once I see an even file mark at the outer edge of the fretboard I'm confident that each fret is beveled in as far as need be.	4. Filing the Fret Ends Cont. I have to slightly alter my approach to get at the frets between the nut and the 5th string tuner. I haven't changed the actual bevel angle though.


5. A Freshly Filed Bevel. Note the thin strip of the fretboard edge that is slightly rounded over from the file. That strip is an indicator that the fret ends are evenly filed back enough so that they no longer protrude.	6. Rounding the Fret Ends with a crowning file is the first step in dressing the fret ends. I've taped a thin sheet of metal to the body of the banjo to ensure that I don't damage the finish with the end of the file.


7. Rounding the Fret Ends Cont. I give each fret end 8 strokes of the crowning file (4 push stroks and 4 pull stroke). With each stroke I slightly change both the pitch and the yaw of the file to ensure an even and smoothe fret end.	8. Rounded Fret Ends.


9. Polishing the Fret Ends begins with #0000 steel wool. I'll use the steel wool until all of the file marks are gone from the fret ends.	10. Polishing the Fret Ends Cont. After the steel wool I like to use Stew- Mac's micro mesh abrasives. These small polishing pads start at 2400 grit and go up to 12000 grit.


11. Cleaning the Fretboard with naptha will get rid of any metal particles, bits of steel wool, micro abrasives or ebony dust that I've worked into the fretboard's pores while polishing the frets.	12. Sealing the Fretboard with mineral oil will protect the unfinished ebony and give it a nice shine to match those freshly polished frets.


13. Some Slick Fret Ends! This crossfire is ready for duty now that the fret ends won't tear up its owner's fretting hand.	14. All Done.