Philadelphia Luthiery Fret Press Caul

[soliver]

I just wanted to share with you all that I bought one of these with some Christmas money ...

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools...-not-included/

... and am finally getting around to using it. It will supposedly fit the Stewmac Arbor press (not sure about other standard Arbor Presses), or it can be chucked up in your drill press. Up until this point I have been using a hammer to seat frets. This evening, I chucked it up on my drill press to give it a go, and I have to say, so far I am pleased!

It's quite affordable at around $30 plus like $5 for whatever radius insert you want. I paid more for a fretting hammer from SM than for that! :lol:

Like I said, I just wanted to share... so lemme know any advice for a newb on pressing frets!

Here's some pics:

. .

[Chris Pile]

Great outfit. I buy tools from them, too. My favorite (that no one else seems to carry) is their feather edge file.
I use it to start the slots when making bone nuts. About 3 strokes on the marks, then switch to the next tool.
Affordable, too!

[MikeEdgerton]

Extremely nice folks. I've bought guitar parts from them.

[Richard500]

Design looks sensible, and with a neck supporting block, can be used on assembled instruments (except those ones way up the neck). Just checked my arbor presses, nothing happens to have a 3/8 hole in the ram, but that’s just a matter of adding a piece of wood with one. Could even be used in a woodworking vise, but a drill press would be better.

[Explorer]

I 've bought their handzoperated fret press, a set of 10 Hosco fret files (in a little tube), and various other tools from them over the years. I've never been disappointed.