Fret "tilting" on installation

[HogTime]

This is on a StewMac soprano uke kit, but the frets look just like ones on a mandolin.

First 2 went in fine. Third one was tilted when partially in. Ran Xacto blade thru slot and tried a few more times and got same result. Used same fret in 4th slot and it went in fine.

The 3rd slot looks kind of beat up now.

a) What could cause this?
b) Should I try running a saw blade thru the bad slot? Got one about 0.15 that goes in the slots nicely.

Thanks,

[Pete Jenner]

Are you pressing them in or hammering them in?

[sunburst]

Frets can "fall over" whether driven or pressed if the slots are slightly tight for the fret tang.
Measure the width of the fret slots (feeler gauges) and measure the thickness of the fret tangs between the barbs (calipers) to make sure that there is plenty of clearance. If the tangs are about .020" to .022" and the fret slots are about .024", they should go in OK if you:
Try beveling the edges of the fret slots. Many use a triangular file for this, but I find that a tool meant for checkering gun stocks works best for me. Also, try filing the barbs on the fret tang slightly. The lack of square edges to the sides of the slots and the relieved fit of the files barbs will usually make the frets go in much easier without falling over.

If, on the other hand, you find that the fret tangs are .022" and the slots are .022", those frets aren't going in without damage and anger! In that case, saw the slots wider.

[HogTime]

Thanks, John. It seemed to me that I was having a harder time starting the frets into the slots than I did on my mando kit. I'll do some measurements and tweak the slots/tangs as you suggested. Hopefully, won't have to re-saw the slots.

Peter, I'm hammering them.

[High Lonesome Valley]

Crazy Glue while pushing it in with a hammer head.

[Pete Jenner]

Thanks Ralph. John covered everything I was going to say but much better than I would have said it.

[HogTime]

I measured my slots and they are about 0.024. The fretwire tang from StewMac appears to be about 2 or 3 thou more, while the narrow fretwire with my F5 kit from Siminoff is 2 or 3 thou less. I don't know what the slot width was with my F5 kit, but I do know I didn't have the same problems installing frets as with the uke.

I contacted StewMac and they said my slot width was correct. Essentially just advised me to install them like the manual says. I'm going to ask them what the tang width is for their wire (website doesn't say) to see if my measurements are close. Siminoff lists theirs as 0.023, so my measurement was close for it.

I'm not going to use StewMac's wire and tear my hair out. I might use the Siminoff wire, even though it's not quite as tall. TBD.

Kind of irritating.

[David Houchens]

Used same fret in 4th slot and it went in fine.

This would make it seem its the slots, not the tang.

[HogTime]

I should have left out the word "fine". It wasn't easy.

[Pete Jenner]

Use a bigger hammer.

[jim simpson]

I had to use the illustrated fret slot saw from StewMac to get a project finished. It was the only re-fret I ever had to do that required it.