8" FRET LEVELLING BEAM - Understring or conventional levelling versions

REVISED - JUNE 2025
Revisions include a larger handle and an extra grade of abrasive grit.
 
1) 8" FRET LEVELLING KIT
(FOR CONVENTIONAL USE)
The 8" fret levelling beam features a solid oak handle and a stainless steel precision formed fret levelling tool.

The tool is designed to utilise regular 25mm wide abrasive roll or strips cut from standard sheets. This feature enables any abrasive grit of preference to be utilised. Adhesive backed abrasive is not required.

Reloading the abrasive is performed by inserting the strip through the slots and pulling taut at each end of the tool. The handle is then re-fitted.
 
The tool includes notches at the ends to allow upgrading for understring use. (The universal upgrade can be purchased separately).
 
2) 8" UNIVERSAL FRET LEVELLING KIT
(FOR CONVENTIONAL & UNDERSTRING USE)
The universal version includes abrasive retaining grips for fitting at each end of the tool. These are inserted into the end notches and allow the tool to be used underneath the strings without the handle. (The handle is also included for use on conventional levelling).
 
A string raiser is also included to create sufficient clearance for the tool to work freely underneath the strings. This comprises of a stainless steel curved bar and thin silicon rubber strip. The curved bar finds its own resting point on the fretboard and accommodates any fretboard radius including flat boards. The smooth surface of the bar allows the string positions to be grouped as required. The silicon strip fits underneath the bar and protects the fretboard and top of the nut.
 
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The manufacturing process includes linishing of the levelling face over a granite surface table (similar to truing the sole of a smoothing plane) and flatness is guaranteed through 100% inspection of the tool. The overall tool length is 10" with an effective abrasive length of 8".

INCLUDED ABRASIVE
The tool is supplied with 4 strips each of 220, 280 & 400 grit emery. The choice of grit will depend on fret wear and degree of levelling required. 
 
After levelling the frets in a linear motion, the tool can be drawn sideways over the frets to polish out remaining scratches. Used strips of emery can be retained for different degrees of fret levelling, and polishing work.
 
FRET LEVELLING PREPARATION
The guitar neck should be set straight before levelling the frets. (A notched edge will reference the fretboard and help to maintain uniformity of the frets for levelling).