Nut Slotting Advice Please.

[thebrig]

I don't want to spend between £75 and £100 for a set of specialist nut files to only use them once, so is there anything else I could use to slot a nut?

 

Although I guess that to do the job properly, then I would need the proper nut slotting files.

 

Alternatively, any idea how much it would cost to get a luthier to do the job for me?

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited February 16, 2023 by thebrig

[Waddo Soqable]

Seem to recall this question came up a while ago.. What I've used are very cheap welding nozzle tip cleaner files, they come in little tin cases and are round section (not tapered) which is handy, unlike needle files that often are taper. 

I've cut nuts from scratch with these, with a bit of time and patience. 

This kind of thing, literally 2 or 3 quid, so expendable! 

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by Waddo Soqable

[thebrig]

  On 16/02/2023 at 20:26, Waddo Soqable said:

Seem to recall this question came up a while ago.. What I've used are very cheap welding nozzle tip cleaner files, they come in little tin cases and are round section (not tapered) which is handy, unlike needle files that often are taper. 

I've cut nuts from scratch with these, with a bit of time and patience. 

Expand  

Do you mean something like these?

[Waddo Soqable]

  On 16/02/2023 at 20:40, thebrig said:

Do you mean something like these?

Expand  

Yes that kind of thing, easier to use if you detach them individually so those would be ideal

[thebrig]

  On 16/02/2023 at 23:20, Waddo Soqable said:

Yes that kind of thing, easier to use if you detach them individually so those would be ideal

Expand  

👍 Cheers, I've just ordered some from Amazon for £3.99

[Waddo Soqable]

Good stuff.. I found these just the job, as I say, needs a bit of patience but they created nice neat slots in a plastic nut, would no doubt work on bone or any other commonly used material 

[hamfist]

Yup, I have used those nozzle cleaners many a time on a bass nut. They don’t go small enough for a guitar nut but for bass they are great. Remember to go SLoWLY !!!

[Waddo Soqable]

  On 17/02/2023 at 19:27, hamfist said:

Yup, I have used those nozzle cleaners many a time on a bass nut. They don’t go small enough for a guitar nut but for bass they are great. Remember to go SLoWLY !!!

Expand  

Oddly enough I did a nut for a 4 string tenor guitar with the nozzle cleaner files, maybe some sets go smaller than others, some of the fine flame nozzle apertures are very small

[Aidan63]

you can borrow my hosco set, I'm not that far from you

[lownote]

I bought some proper files once and that just rubbed on the plastic, no dig in at all.  No idea what was going on there - which is a legend I want inscribed on my tombstone.

[thebrig]

  On 18/02/2023 at 08:53, Aidan63 said:

you can borrow my hosco set, I'm not that far from you

Expand  

Thanks Aidan, the "cheapo" set should arrive on Monday so I will see how I get on with them first, if I struggle with them then I might take you up on your kind offer.

 

Cheers.

[KingBollock]

  On 17/02/2023 at 08:57, thebrig said:

👍 Cheers, I've just ordered some from Amazon for £3.99

Expand  

Habe you got a link? I’m too lazy to troll through trying to find the correct set!

[KingBollock]

  On 17/02/2023 at 19:32, Waddo Soqable said:

Oddly enough I did a nut for a 4 string tenor guitar with the nozzle cleaner files, maybe some sets go smaller than others, some of the fine flame nozzle apertures are very small

Expand  

What sort of gauge do they go up to?

 

I’ve got a bass I’d like to make a bone nut for. I’d like to have a crack at a stainless Steel nut, too. That should be fun. I have alternative tools and plans for that, though.

[Waddo Soqable]

  On 18/02/2023 at 09:32, KingBollock said:

What sort of gauge do they go up to?

 

I’ve got a bass I’d like to make a bone nut for. I’d like to have a crack at a stainless Steel nut, too. That should be fun. I have alternative tools and plans for that, though.

Expand  

The set I have here right now goes up to 1.7mm, smallest is 0.37mm. There are likely sets for larger nozzle sizes, but these worked fine for me

[thebrig]

  On 18/02/2023 at 09:28, KingBollock said:

Habe you got a link? I’m too lazy to troll through trying to find the correct set!

Expand  

Here you go

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075L7CR1F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[KingBollock]

  On 18/02/2023 at 10:19, thebrig said:

Here you go

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075L7CR1F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Expand  

Thank you!