The advanced technique of mashing or crimping a fret's barbed tang for a custom fit, suggested by repairman Frank Ford, prompted our original Masher and Crimper tools. We've combined them into one specialized tool: the FretFitter. It can be used to resize the barbed tang for easier fretting in harder woods, to control fret compression and neck stiffness, and to help prevent or relieve backbow.
See details below
The hardened steel FretFitter has custom jaws for flattening the barbs to fit a tighter slot, or for pressing a slight scallop into the tang to fit an oversize slot. You simply vary the pressure of the tool as needed.
The FretFitter is included in our money-saving Fret Tang Tool Set along with the Fret Barber, our handy tool for quickly trimming the barbs on longer lengths of fretwire.
We recommend our book FretWork Step By Step for details on the technique of compression fretting.
February 23, 2009 I just received my order which included the Fret Fitter pliers. I can only describe them as elegant. I did not expect a product so well executed and so good looking.