Fret wire Press and Bending Block

Here are a couple of items I made up to do some specific jobs. If there's one thing that I didn't realize in starting a guitar project it is that there are so many little things that you need to make or purchase just to be able to do the insignificant stuff... For example bending fret-wire and pressing the frets into the slot.

I've seen the fret-wire get hammered in, pressed in with a specialized press, and pressed in with a drill press... I figured I would try the drill press method, but I will need a block that fits the radius of my fret-board. Also, a smaller radius for bending the fret wire.

Item on top is what will be the press, Item on bottom for bending the wire.

Creating a groove for the fret-wire to sit in.

Result of sanding with dremel.

Creating the press, Epoxy into the block with a nail.

Clamping the fret-wire into the block to bend it... A day later... This didn't work, AT ALL. I ended up putting the block on carpet (with the wire in place) fret side down, stepping on the block, and pulling the wire through at a slight angle several times. That worked beautiful, then I just used this block as a guide to see how my bending was working.

Another modification... I'm using this tool to cut the frets and the fret-tang (part that seeds into the wood) but this tool did not cut flush. So I ground it down on VP's Grinder. Thanks VP!