Nut slot files, in the UK

[Stevepage]

Is there any where in the UK that sells nut slot files aren't too expensive? Stewmac was priced well, but would take weeks to get to me and Allparts charge £18 a file.

[FELINEGUITARS]

stewmac are dead quick unless you use surface mail - their DHL service is so fast it's staggering

Touchstone tonewoods supply them as well

Sadly I sold my spare sets a few months back - MDV and AndyR had those
Is it just for the one guitar (in which case it may be cheaper to go to a tech) or would you prefer to have your own set?

[Stevepage]

Well I'm considering alternatives to having a LSR roller nut installed on my Tele but also the files could be helpful with my Strat too which has a bone nut. I would really just like to start of with 3 files for the moment  (.10, .13, .16) then get the rest a bit later on.

[tomjackson]

I've always forund the pre-cut Tusq nuts really good

[AndyR]

As Jonathan says - I am an owner of one of his old sets. I've just used them for the first time this weekend...

I cannot tell you how much easier things worked out because I have these things now. I dithered for years over getting some - but it always seemed a tad expensive.

For example, the last time I was @rsing around with nut slots was a few months back - thin bits of sandpaper, modelling knives... etc... And then when you've completely messed it up, get a pre-cut Tusq nut - and even then there's hours of sanding the sides to fit and then sanding down the bottom (or shimming it if it's too low).

With actual nut files, a terrible "this nut is a piece of utter sh1t" was fixed in 20 minutes (and that was going very slow because I was a terrified nut-file-virgin). I now know the last nut I chucked and replaced with tusq was fixable :roll: (£5 or so for the nut, p&p, plus 2-3 hours of my time...)

The last time I considered buying a new set of files was from Touchstone Tonewoods - and I would recommend them to deal with, nice chaps.

http://www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/ttwp7.html

Here's the info I got from them at the time (I actually know the bloke, used to share a house with him, hence the "to be honest" downgrade-the-sale bit!):

============
Sure - the gauges are as follows (part no.9915)
.016", .028", .040", .045", .054", .062".
We also sell a 10 file set (part no.9916) -
.010", .013", .016", .024", .028", .032", .036", .042", .046", .056".

To be honest, the 3 file (double edged) 9915 set will probably do from .010" - .070" or thereabouts if used with some skill.
============

After yesterday's (at first) tentative work, I can confirm that I would have been happy with the 9915 set - £66.45 at the moment -  it will do the job he said it would (but I was convinced at the time that I'd want the 10 file set!).

If you own more than a couple of guitars, and might possibly buy just one more (or might possibly change string gauges one day), and you like being self-sufficient in the guitar maintenance department - then based on yesterday's efforts I would say it is well worth the expense :D

[FELINEGUITARS]

I've always forund the pre-cut Tusq nuts really good

They are very good but usually require a little tweaking with nut files to get optimum action at the nut

The double sided bevelled nut files are my favourite - they are based on ones made by Ibanez in the 70s
Stew mac do them and you can get away with 3 of them - although 4 will be best giving you 8 widths - the gauges are
12/16   26/32   36/42   50/60

[AndyR]

Yep, I must admit I'm likely to tweak the last tusq nut I installed now I feel more confident.

And Jonathan, I'm very glad you wrote the gauges on the sides of yours...

I was puzzled for a bit, and then I thought "ah! let's assume he's right-handed..." and it all fell into place :lol: (I have a feeling you explained that to me at the time, but... :roll:)

eg, I was doing an A string, the string is .038, so I decided I wanted to use the 42... so I picked up the 36/42 in my right hand ready to use... when I could see "36" staring at me, I flipped it over so I could see "42", and started filing...

It's worked for me - everything seems very hunky-dory. But did I make the "right" or "proper" choice? ie I used a 42 to cut a slot for a .038 string? I reasoned it was so damn close, that I'd be far better off doing that, filing as straight as I could manage, than trying to wobble a 36 about to cut me a slot big enough... :lol:

EDIT: On the last lot of tusq nuts I got, I think I've figured out that the slight gradient in the slot is maybe too steep, and that's what was causing me excessive buzzing/resonating behind the nut (I ended up putting a second string tree on to fix it). I had the same problem on the stock nut on this guitar, and as I still had some height to play with, I tried giving it less of an angle, and the problem went away without having to add another tree :)

[FELINEGUITARS]

You are correct Andy - myself and all the staff who have worked for me so far have been right handed - so it has been common practice for me to write the size of the file on the side so that when you pick it up in your right hand - you can see what size you will be cutting with .
For a 0.038" string I would either use a0.036" file and rock it side to side as I cut  or I would use the 0.042" file and keep it vertical and not be sloppy.
In fact I may start with the 0.036" and finish off with a couple of strokes from the 0.042"
The other important thing is to keep the front edge of the nut slot higher than the back to ensure that the string makes firm contact with that leading edge - or else you will end up getting sitar like noises because the string is unsure of where it is supposed to stop vibrating and warbles back and forth.

It is also worth putting a thin layer of something protective (masking tape , plastic, card)behind the nut where you are filing to prevent the file digging into paintwork and scratching it

[AndyR]

It is also worth putting a thin layer of something protective (masking tape , plastic, card)behind the nut where you are filing to prevent the file digging into paintwork and scratching it

:lol: :roll:

Luckily it's a Roadworn... but I have learnt from the experience :lol:

(They work as quite a good "nail-file" as well - as in "cut a groove in the surface of your nail" if you get a finger in the way while concentrating on angles... "why's it not doing anything?" ... "cos you're filing yourself, you pillock...")

[horsehead]

stupid question but al while ago I seem to remember someone posting a link to a something akin to a pen knife, but with files in instead. Does anyone remember this or am I going mad?