Hi Robin,
Your fret bender looks great, just try to make sure that fret wire tang stays square to the surface of the wheel. I can't quite see if you have a slot in the bottom wheel but, if not, two small ball races mounted on a machine screw with a washer in between provide a lovely little slot for the tang to sit in, so if you ever feel like modding the jig you could swap the bottom wheel for this system as a fret bent at an angle is a real pain to fit.
With regard to the curvature of the fret wire you want the fret to be a very slightly tighter radius than the fretboard so the the edges of the fret sit fully down into the slot whist leaving the centre just proud and waiting for a final tap to knock it home. If the fret is a more open radius than the fret board then you will find it almost impossible to get the edges to sit in their slots properly.
Cheers
Darren
make sure that fret wire tang stays square to the surface of the wheel
Thanks for the good advice Darren, I have got a slot in the bottom roller but its a bit rough. The wire that I rolled does look a little squint and also at too tight a radius. I've got a couple of roller bearings on their way to me now for another project, so they'll be repurposed.
I’ve got a similar DIY radius-er.
If you have one of the discs mounted in a slot, rather than a hole, you can reposition it so that you can bend different radiuses into the wire.
The drill power is a nice touch. I have to turn my wheels my hand. I spent ages looking for a simple winder-handle, and never found anything suitable. Never even considered a power-turner!
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If you have one of the discs mounted in a slot, rather than a hole, you can reposition it so that you can bend different radiuses into the wire.
More good advice Tony, the MkII version will be adjustable. I really just took a guess at the bottom roller position trying to keep it simple. The drill doesn't power the roller, that was to turn a flat face and put groves in the rollers. I can't stop myself, I have to keep making tools to make tools.
The drill doesn't power the roller, that was to turn a flat face and put groves in the rollers
Ahhhhh - that *would* make more sense! I was trying to work out how you'd managed to incorporate the drill power, and keep it turning slowly enough!!
Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk
, I wonder if a good value fret bender could be a product for the shop?
I think Mark does know someone who’s made them previously, but the guy doesn’t seem to be around anymore?
With the parts sourced, it would be reasonably simple to make. And made with the alternative positions marked/set to bend to different radii
Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk
I made this a while ago @robin it works well and I agree with @darrenking that so long as the radius is slightly more acute than the fretboard, you don’t need to know the an exact radius. I just used skateboard bearings for this, held in place with bolts, washers and nuts.
Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸
@steadda
Do you have a link please, as usual there's loads show up in the search
These are the ones that I've ordered. It says dispatched from Cambridge UK, but the Chinese seller seems to have a USA address, so maybe not the best chioce. As you say there are hundreds to choose from.
I bought mine from a seller on Amazon UK. Yes they are a little more expensive but the delivery is fast and the product is good.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EPNN62M/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_kUnXFbGRV4X5M?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸
Good stuff everyone. I have yet to make my own. I still meticulously manually do it fret by fret and file off the tang ends. Unreal how long it it takes. All 22 of them. Now I have a 24 fret bass on the works. I think it is time.