Fret Crimper
Crimps the tang to fit oversize fret slots. Hardened steel jaws press slight scallops into a fret tang to fit an oversize slot.
Works on a variety of slot widths. Simply vary the pressure as needed.Overall length: 7" (178mm)
Jaw width: 13/32" (10.24mm)
Comfortable rubber-coated handles.
This unique tool is based on a technique developed by repairman Frank Ford.
The Fret Crimper 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.
Works on stainless frets, too!
All of our tools are suitable for use on stainless-steel fretwire*. Modern stainless-steel fretwire is known to be harder than the traditional nickel-silver blends, but our own shop experience indicates the wire does not cause premature wear of files or sandpapers.
*Excludes our original Fret Tang Nippers. We recommend our Deluxe Fret Tang Nippers for stainless-steel fretwire.
Can you lower a single high fret with just a fret crowning file?
You generally cannot lower a single high fret using just a standard fret crowning file. A fret crowning file is designed to reshape the top of a fret after it has already been leveled flat. Its job is to round off the flat spot left by the leveling process, not to remove significant height from a fret. Using a crowning file alone on a high fret will mostly round the sides, not lower the overall height. If you attempt to use only a traditional crowning file to lower a high fret, you risk removing material unevenly and potentially making the fret unlevel or misshapen. Again, crowning files are not meant for significant material removal from the top of the fret. Instead, use the Fret Kisser which makes quick work of leveling an individual high fret, saving time by working only on the affected fret.
