Nut Files

[Snikch]

I'm in the process of building a partsocaster and was planning to cut/shape my own nut from a bone blank.

Having looked around nut file sets seem rather expensive. So i guess my question is, is there a cheap(er) alternative to buying a nut file set. could the nut slots be cut with needle files? is there another method? or will i just have to bite the bullet and invest?

thanks

[Doc001]

If you can find flat files a little smaller in width than the string you're cutting that will work. You'll probably just end up bitting the bullet though.
Good luck!

[gingataff]

I haven't tried one myself but Monte Allums recommends a welders tip cleaner, check out the picture about 1/3 down this link: http://www.monteallums.com/enut_tuning.html

[WezV]

for my first guitars i generally used small needle files, mini saws, folded sandpaper or the actual strings themselves.... anything i could find really.  i always got them working fine but it wasnt always neat

i'm much happier now i have my nut files and saws

[FELINEGUITARS]

I love these ones
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/Special_tools_for:_Nuts_and_saddles/1/Double-edge_Nut_Files/Pictures.html#details

[WezV]

they are the ones i use now and they definately make everything easier

[PhilKing]

I have them too, along with the nut saws and the spacing gauge and feeler gauge - it makes cutting a nut a lot easier.

[pagan7]

I use these   http://www.dv247.com/invt/50281/
They do a good job and are reasonable value for 8 files (compared to some others), though I can't work out why nut files so expensive to begin with. They aren't anymore highly engineered and precise than a good quality set of ordinary needle files, and you can get 8 of those for under a tenner   :(

[FELINEGUITARS]

Nut files only cut on one edge whereas needle files cut on more than one edge

The straight nut files are good (I have them as well), but with the double sided ones - which are a copy of similar Ibanez ones from the 1970s anyway you get two sizes in each file - so 6 files = 12 files really

But they are all better and more specific than needle files
But necessity being the mother of invention and all that , you will find a way  that will get the job done - even using the ridges of a wound string as a filing edge or something

[WezV]

yeah, i am happy that my nut files are graded to with a thousanth of an inch even if i have never checked there accuracy.  i am fairly sure thats what we pay extra for, maybe i should check them

[PhilKing]

The straight nut files are good (I have them as well), but with the double sided ones - which are a copy of similar Ibanez ones from the 1970s anyway you get two sizes in each file - so 6 files = 12 files really

I still have my ibanez files too, including the fret files, they came as a set with 3 nut and 3 fret files (all double sided).

[necrophonic]

Ok, this may be a really stupid question... but do you need nut files exactly the size of the string you're cutting the slot for?

I mean, say I'm cutting a slot for a 0.018 string - do I need a 0.018 file, or is it more normal to say use a smaller one (like 0.016) and then enlarge afterwards? I'd assume you don't want the slot wider than the string!

Thanks, and apologies for potentially sounding overly n00b :)

[the guitar repair workshop]

hi,
you certainly can use a .16, just work it side to side to enlarge the slot.

with regards to tools,  i buy every single guaged file i can find - i have a nice big long line of them mounted in a block that i use every day. The angled type seem good, and maybe i'll pick some up next tool raid i do, but the guaged sets work a treat for me.
i have stacks of needle files, but i don't really use them for nut slots, most needle files are of fairly poor quality (try shesto :))

have a gander at frank ford's site www.frets.com for info on filing a nut slot, or the stew mac site. They'll tell you eveything you need to know,
cheers,
steve