Fret pullers

[Jakester]

I'm looking to have a crack at defretting an old bass of mine. 

I need some fret pullers as I don't have access to the machinery to grind my own. 

The Stewmac ones have a good review:

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Fretting/Pullers_nippers_sizing/Fret_Puller.html

But there are some on eBay: 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elmer-Guitar-Fret-Wire-Puller/323213285026

including some that appear identical to the Stewmac ones:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Bass-Pliers-Fret-Puller-Fret-String-Cutter-Luthier-Scissors-Tool-W0R9/112980533892?hash=item1a4e2a2284:g:E4kAAOSwa0la7LKS

Has anyone bought a pair of the eBay ones? 

[songofthewind]

The Stewmac ones seem to be ground away much more at the the nose. The others look like regular cutters to me, would need to be ground much more. I think.

[Andyjr1515]

11 hours ago, Jakester said:

I'm looking to have a crack at defretting an old bass of mine. 

I need some fret pullers as I don't have access to the machinery to grind my own. 

The Stewmac ones have a good review:

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Fretting/Pullers_nippers_sizing/Fret_Puller.html

But there are some on eBay: 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elmer-Guitar-Fret-Wire-Puller/323213285026

including some that appear identical to the Stewmac ones:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Bass-Pliers-Fret-Puller-Fret-String-Cutter-Luthier-Scissors-Tool-W0R9/112980533892?hash=item1a4e2a2284:g:E4kAAOSwa0la7LKS

Has anyone bought a pair of the eBay ones? 

Great close up photos on thst second ebay one!  But they are not fret pullers. The pullers need to get under a seated fret both sides, so the jaws are ground down to almost knife sharpness at the ends and a flat, even surface at the fretboard contact point.  These are standard string / wire cutters, shown in use in one of the photos.

[Jakester]

Thanks both. 

[Grangur]

These are the best ones I've had.

https://tonetechluthiersupplies.co.uk/fret-cutter-end-nipper.html

[songofthewind]

Hosco is good gear.

[Andyjr1515]

3 hours ago, Grangur said:

These are the best ones I've had.

https://tonetechluthiersupplies.co.uk/fret-cutter-end-nipper.html

Not sure those are fret pullers @Grangur ?

[Grangur]

8 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Not sure those are fret pullers @Grangur ?

They certainly do that job well. As well as nipping the ends of frets. The only word of warning I would add is to not use them for stainless steel frets. SS wrecks the blades.

[Andyjr1515]

1 hour ago, Grangur said:

They certainly do that job well. As well as nipping the ends of frets. The only word of warning I would add is to not use them for stainless steel frets. SS wrecks the blades.

Useful to know.  I'll try mine next time I need to lift one.

[yorks5stringer]

I just bought the regular plier type and ground down the jaws.

[Jakester]

Quote

I need some fret pullers as I don't have access to the machinery to grind my own. 

Edited September 10, 2018 by Jakester

[yorks5stringer]

12 hours ago, Jakester said:

 

Yes, I missed that....

[Hellzero]

When I had my repair shop, I used this : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Facom-418-MT-Pliers-Microtech-Micro-Tech/dp/B00B1C6CR6

 

[nash]

https://crimsonguitars.com/store/fret-puller/

 

I personally use my fret end cuts for pulling frets as they’re also ground flush. 

Don’t forget to heat the  fret before you pull it out to help minimise tear out. 

[Jakester]

In the end, I bought a set of these:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fret-Pullers-Guitar-Tool-Luthier-Tool-Precision-Ground-tool-TF001/180954416883?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

 

Smaller than I anticipated, but they worked perfectly to lift the frets from the neck of my Yamaha RBX. Heated the first couple of frets but it seemed to make no difference - minimal tear out which was pleasing. 

Edited September 18, 2018 by Jakester

[Andyjr1515]

1 hour ago, Jakester said:

In the end, I bought a set of these:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fret-Pullers-Guitar-Tool-Luthier-Tool-Precision-Ground-tool-TF001/180954416883?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

 

Smaller than I anticipated, but they worked perfectly to lift the frets from the neck of my Yamaha RBX. Heated the first couple of frets but it seemed to make no difference - minimal tear out which was pleasing. 

Sounds like a result