PSA: REALLY good 15 dollar fret cutters

[dougk]

Hey everyone,

Ran across these cutters from Fastcap a company the old man deals with: http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/Pli...Cut-26p287.htm

My StewMac ones are just absolutely worn out, especially from cutting SS frets so decided to give these a try. I ordered their "End Nip" and "Heavy Duty Flush Cut" (hoping they'll hold up to SS reasonably well). Started using them today and they are FANTASTIC!!

The heavy duty ones especially with the handle bent back really lets you get in over the body of the guitar if your doing a refret, both cutters are ground much closer to the edge than the SM's and so far they are cutting SS really nicely.

Totally pleased with them, for about half the cost of the SM's.

Thought I'd share!

[Pfeister]

Good timing! I've just about killed my SM nippers too. I'd love something that cuts closer to the FB too. Thanks for the link!

[Jack Briggs]

Cool - I'm in need.
Thanks, Doug!


Cheers,

[David Myka]

Thanks Doug, these look nice. I have a set of cutter from LMII from years ago when they had a great quality German made cutter. I have reground them about a dozen times and they still work great, even with SS, but I will need a new set sometime soon.

~David

[dougk]

No problem fella's! Craig they cut really, REALLY tight which is great for SS especially. I wish the handles were a bit longer for more leverage on SS (about the same as the SM's).

David- I've actually reground my SM's a couple times now too and that helps a lot. They aren't completely worn out yet but getting close... I think its time to retire those to home use.

One thing I did notice cutting the wire to width, the inside of the cut leaves a large beveled "crimp". So you either have to cut them a little longer than normal OR what I do is keep a cheap set of big heavy cutters for cutting all the bulk wire. Then use the nippers for just trimming tight to the fretboard edges.

[Ian Anderson]

Says on the website he is a fellow Taylor "Alumni" and Bob taught him how to grind his cutter. Thats how I learned to do mine too. I grind up a set of the blue handled cutters <forget the brand name> on a belt sander and they last forever. I just ordered a set of these. Thanks for the tip! Allparts has a nice looking set of fluch cutters I would like to try out.

[Chris Rice]

Looks great, thanks!

[Oz Hofstatter]

Thanks for share!
Cheers,
Oz

[dougk]

Those HD ones, I just used them to do two refrets on guitars and I've NEVER had a set of cutters that cut so tight. You can actually cut the beveled end right into the fret if you want (though I recommend cutting square or slightly back, it does leave a little crimp mark right in the middle of the cut surface that you will have to remove when beveling/hemisphere'ing). Totally enamored with them.

[murkat]

Very Nice! Thanks for the lead!

[Ian Anderson]

Got mine today. The first cut on stainless chipped them. They work on nickel silver though it takes s bit of effort. The top angle is too flat you need to grind some away for clearance. A well ground set of Channellock 357 is still the one to use.

[dougk]

Originally Posted by Ian Anderson

Got mine today. The first cut on stainless chipped them. They work on nickel silver though it takes s bit of effort. The top angle is too flat you need to grind some away for clearance. A well ground set of Channellock 357 is still the one to use.

The heavy duty or the rounded ones? The heavy duty have been holding up to SS for me, the other ones haven't but like you said, fine for NS. Either way crummy, I feel bad for recommending them now

[Ian Anderson]

Don't feel bad they were cheap and work for you. I probably got the wrong ones. I got the end nippers.

I also got the micro nippers, they will work great cutting binding nibs in.

[dougk]

Originally Posted by Ian Anderson

Don't feel bad they were cheap and work for you. I probably got the wrong ones. I got the end nippers.

I also got the micro nippers, they will work great cutting binding nibs in.

Ahhh. I with the end nippers had the handle length of the SM's for some more leverage. The HD's are much better for that and seem to hold up to SS pretty well... the others not so much.

Good call for binding nips with the micro's!

[Jack Daniels]

I broke a pair of the end nippers on SS wire. No good. The heavy duty ones might be better as Doug mentions. I will say the End Nips are fantastic for standard Nickel wire. I used mine on about 150 necks with no issues (until the SS wire.) I replaced them...with the same set and stop taking SS orders.