Fret tang nipper on a budget

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Stray Feathers
Posts: 677
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:39 pm
Location: Ladysmith, BC

Fret tang nipper on a budget

Post by Stray Feathers »

I have not tried a bound fretboard yet, but I wanted to try nipping fret tangs to get a cleaner finish on the fretboard sides. Custom made nippers are expensive, even more so with shipping to Canada. I found some videos describing how to modify a sheet metal nibbler to do the job and decided to try it. After some searching, I found a nibbler for about $22 CAD and reasonable shipping. It's much like one described on YouTube, this one made in Taiwan for GC Tool, sold by Newark Tools. It's a fairly simple modification, removing the end cap (it did not explode with springs flying everywhere) and filing a groove in it with a small triangular file. It works very well on nickel silver fretwire. EVO fretwire is harder, and takes a little more oomph but if it is set right it works well - maybe a little rougher cut. I have found it works better if I cut the fret tang BEFORE cutting the fret to length - a couple of cuts with the nibbler and then cut it off in the middle of the nipped portion. (Sorry I don't know how to get these photos in the correct order . . .) Bruce W.
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Kevin Sjostrand
Posts: 3712
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:06 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Re: Fret tang nipper on a budget

Post by Kevin Sjostrand »

Yep I did that to a similar nipper sold by Harbor Freight here about 10 years ago. It still works fine. I think I paid $10 for the tool.
TEETERFAN
Posts: 342
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:43 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Fret tang nipper on a budget

Post by TEETERFAN »

Well, I am gonna be fretting a bound neck, so I am headed to Harbor Freight! Thanks
Kevin Doty
Kansas City
tippie53
Posts: 7011
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Fret tang nipper on a budget

Post by tippie53 »

you may need to clean up the shear line with a file to get it to lay flat simple , Nice job on the tool by the way
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Fret tang nipper on a budget

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

You're better off with this one. I have a "luthier" tang nipper, which I spent $90 and it's a POS, to be blunt. Good job.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
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