Dremel and fret polishing

[bassman_al]

I did a search and came up with nothing that matched what I am looking for...

What do people think about using a dremel to clean up dirty frets, as an alternative to 000 steel wool?

I am looking at extra fine rubberized polishing wheels...

Thanks for any input!

[Chainsaw Willie]

I have made dremel polishers by cutting a circle of Scotchbrite and mounting it on a #6 screw (or is it #8? whatever fits in a dremel) with washers and a nut.

[steelbed45]

I just received an email yesterday from Stew Mac announcing their new rubberized dremel fret polishers. They come in fine and extra fine. Might be right up your alley.

[bigmoosepi]

nevr dull.

[bassman_al]

I have made dremel polishers by cutting a circle of Scotchbrite and mounting it on a #6 screw (or is it #8? whatever fits in a dremel) with washers and a nut.

There are Scotchbrite wheels made for Dremels. Many different types.

I just received an email yesterday from Stew Mac announcing their new rubberized dremel fret polishers. They come in fine and extra fine. Might be right up your alley.

I got the same e-mail, but as usual Stew-Mac products are expensive and I wanted to see what others out there in TB-land are using, possibly as a less expensive alternative, especially since I am a hobbyist and just looking for another use for this cordless low-power Dremel I just picked up from a neighbor at a yard sale. Very handy tool!

So what I am looking for in this thread are any specific products people use to polish frets. What grit, what level of coarseness, what material should I be looking for.

[andysick]

If you aren't set on a dremel, i've had great success with this product.

http://gorgomyte.com/

Done a few friends guitars and they were amazed at the difference.

[nick98338]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw Willie

I have made dremel polishers by cutting a circle of Scotchbrite and mounting it on a #6 screw (or is it #8? whatever fits in a dremel) with washers and a nut.

I've done much the same thing. A circle of Scotchbrite squished between two washers. I still tape the fretboard, though. Even the really soft Scotchbrite will do bad stuff to wood when it's spinning really fast.

[Chainsaw Willie]

Yeah, you have to tape the fretboard.

Even outside of abrading the wood, the polishing process flings a fine grey/black filth that will be very hard to clean out of the wood.

Even those little sheetmetal fret guards don't protect the fretboard from the filth that fret leveling, crowning, and posishing, creates. I always tape.

[Rodger Bryan]

I have used a dremel polishing felt disk that I shaped with a round file to approximate the shape of the fret crown. The one thing to keep in mind with the rotary tool+ polishing disks is that it generates heat quickly. If any glue was used to secure the frets, it will soften it in a hurry if you dwell too long on the fret.

I do still use the dremel for a quick polishing/cleaning, but for removing scratches and getting them to shine, I get better results from using 3M Flexible polishing papers (Stew-Mac). With the most abrasive 3M paper in the set, it is easy to take out the scratches left by files.
peace,
R

[Bassamatic]

Here's the right stuff at Stew-Mac

http://www.stewmac.com/epa/5269?utm_..._5269_20130612

[skychief]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw Willie

I have made dremel polishers by cutting a circle of Scotchbrite and mounting it on a #6 screw (or is it #8? whatever fits in a dremel) with washers and a nut.

Im gonna try this. Great idea!

[Hopkins]

I just mask off the fretboard and use mothers mag and aluminum polish with one of these http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Accessor...l.aspx?pid=422