When your frets look like this it’s time for a refret. The frets are removed and the fretboard is re-radiused to restore the nice and even curve that has been eroded with finger-worn hollows and swollen lumps. The fret slots are prepared by cutting with a fret saw and bevelling the edges with a dressing file.

The chosen fretwire is cut to length and, becuase this guitar has binding, the tangs are trimmed at either end with a tang cutter. A radius tool is used to match the fretwire to the raidus of the fretboard, then adhesive added to the fret tang. The fret is hammered into place with a deadblow hammer and overhang is trimmed. A bevelling file is used to shape the fret ends around 20 degrees from the vertical, then a dressing file to round the sharp edges. The frets must then be levelled, crowned and polished.