Tang Nipper — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Tang NipperType: toolModified end nippers that cleanly cut the tang portion of fret wire while leaving the crown intact for partial fretting.## Description Tang nippers are modified flush-cut end nippers with jaws ground specifically to cut the barbed tang of fret wire without damaging the crown. The jaws are angled and profiled so that when the tool is squeezed, it shears through the tang from both sides, leaving the crown intact above. This creates a fret with a partial tang, allowing the crown to overhang the fretboard edge for binding overhang installations, or to leave tang-free sections at the fret ends. ## Use in Lutherie When a guitar has bound fretboards, the fret slots stop at the binding and do not extend to the fretboard edge. The fret wire must have its tang trimmed back on both ends so that only the crown extends over the binding, creating a clean, professional appearance. Tang nippers remove the tang from each fret end to the appropriate length before the fret is pressed into the slot. They are also used to cut fret wire to length and to prepare fret ends for partial fretting techniques. ## Selection Guide Stew-Mac and Hosco sell purpose-built tang nippers. Alternatively, a quality pair of flush-cut end nippers (such as Knipex) can be modified by grinding the jaws to the correct profile. The jaws must cut cleanly without crushing or bending the tang, which would cause the fret to seat unevenly. Budget 20 to 50 dollars for a dedicated tool, or modify a 15 to 30 dollar pair of end nippers. ## Tips - Cut the tang back approximately 1.5mm to 2mm beyond the fret slot end for bound fretboards. - Make a c…