how to file a guitar nut

[Liquidribs]

hi guys. i just bought a nut made of bone to replace my old plastic nut that is renowned for biting on my strings.

just wondering is there any special kind of file to file that thing to my previous height (action) and width?
or any tips

i have been filing that thing for bout an hour with a nail clipper file and my wrist hurts worst than going gym please help man

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

theres specific nut files availble online. But its expensive.

Locally, i dont seem to remember seeing any shops selling those.

heres some examples

http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/haze...FIELD=NB;NM;WORDS;SPECS&SEARCH_SPEC=nut+files

anyway, if you still wanna diy, theres something called needle files, much easily available in our local diy shops or hardware stores(some, not all). These files ARE NOT meant for filing nuts, but it will work, in a crude way. You can shaped the bone as your old plastic nut and stuff, but prolly will take up lotsa time.

i tried long time ago using these sorta needle files to shape bone nut as well. It didnt work as well or easy as i thot it is. Other then the shape, accuracy and experience is needed as well, for the strings slot and the spacing between each slot plus other thingy. In the end, i destroyed 2 nuts and decided enough is enough, so i brought it to a qualified guitar guy to do the nut for me. As i was watching him doing the nut, its really not as simple as i though it wud be.

anyway, if you still wanna try(dont be afraid to try though, trying to do is always better then thinking of doing all the time) needle files lookie something like these.

 

[RyanZ]

Yup get the set of files. I got mine at homefix at about $5.

 

[Excalibur]

Cool, didn't know there were such files. What's a bone nut btw? I better rephrase that, what's a nut? Is it the locking nut? Thanks in advance guys.

To the thread starter, you can head down to jalan besar and kelantan lane to look for hardware stores. I got my screws from there

 

[Liquidribs]

PatheinRaindropMoe you're damn pro la. you own such assortment of files??? can lend me?
no la . i went to homefix and bought a long file.

btw a bone nut is a nut that is made of bone instead of plastic lol.

 

[Liquidribs]

da**it homefix rocks dude thanks

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

heh, pro people dont use needle files, they used the correct tool for the correct work. I used whatever can find hopefully it works(1/3 of the time, it doesnt work though)

anyway, have fun with your nut

 

[Excalibur]

PatheinRaindropMoe you're damn pro la. you own such assortment of files??? can lend me?
no la . i went to homefix and bought a long file.

btw a bone nut is a nut that is made of bone instead of plastic lol.

Haha, thanks man. Anyway, to be more specific regarding my question. Is the nut that you guys are talking about, the locking nut for the tremolo system? Thanks once again

 

[live33]

Normal needles files won't work as well, depending on how you use them. The nut slots are to be either round bottom or slightly flat bottom (for non-locking trem equiped guitars). The fall off angle has to be correct, too, esp. for trem equiped guitars. And the slot height and string spacing, too.

If you ask me, I'll rather bring it to a pro to have it done, unless you have the right tools (nut slot files, feeler gauges, etc). The price for a decent nut job is not that much, considering the playability when it's well done.

If you're still keen on trying out, there are LOTS of resources on the net. For instance, Stew Mac has an article on nut cutting here. Or check out Dan Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide (also available at StewMac).

 

[Whitestrat]

i have been filing that thing for bout an hour with a nail clipper file and my wrist hurts worst than going gym please help man

Eh wait... You filed the nut BEFORE mounting it on the neck???

 

[Liquidribs]

Eh wait... You filed the nut BEFORE mounting it on the neck???

before and after. this is my first time changing a nut. did i just screw it up???? i guess so right? how??

by the way for the guitar nut question, its just a normal white object in front of the first fret to hold the strings.

i am not using a tremolo i think thats okay right? somehow the action seems weird now man.
anyway i think i'll be taking it to some repair shop hopefully

 

[Excalibur]

Ah, i see now. Thanks man