Part 1
  
When to Dress Frets
 
A Closer Look
 
A Good Candidate
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Part 2

Checking for Loose Frets
 
Protecting the Fingerboard
 
Protecting the Top

Taping upper Frets

Exposing upper Frets

Trimming tape flush to the Neck

Protecting the Fingerboard Nut

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Part 3

Leveling the Frets

A factory Fret Dressing File

Removing scratches made by File

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Part 4

Crowning Frets

The Crowning File

Shaping the Frets

Steel Wooling Frets

Hand buffing the Frets
 
Oiling the Fingerboard

Polishing the Guitar

Restring the Guitar
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Part 3

Leveling the Frets...

     A file is used (in direction shown) to trim frets to lowest wear. The file shown is designed to reshape tone holes in flutes. It is very fine, very flat and inexpensive.

This...

...files to this.

     This step will also reveal low frets. With the full length of the file, dress until all frets are touched. Don't over dress. All frets should be touched, not flattened.

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A Factory Fret Dressing File...

     This commercial fret file is coarser and should be used sparingly. Scratches from this file will take longer to remove. Classical guitar frets are generally made with a softer alloy than frets on a steel string guitar. This is planned to help extend the life of the softer classical guitar strings.

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Removing Scratches Made by File...

     400 grit sandpaper is wrapped around file and frets are sanded in direction shown until file scratches are removed.

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     Hard to see scratches are easily revealed when direction is changed to a side-to-side motion. At this step move liberally up and down neck to prevent creating uneven frets.

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     600 sandpaper is now used. This step is also known as graining the frets. Every step remaining on the top of the frets is a process of using finer and finer abrasives to make the final surface look as smooth as possible. Even if the fret looks perfectly smooth, there is a noticeable difference in the outcome based on the direction of polishing from here on out. Resistance of a guitar string is often felt on a side-to-side motion on the frets. Polishing sideways reduces this resistant feel with added benefits. Your strings and frets will last longer.

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