perfect nut slots with no strings atached

Hey this is Big John in Tx. this was a response to question, but it will come in handy one day. enjoy tech heads.

10 4 on the new nut
Quote:
Originally Posted by TeleTim911 View Post
I honestly do not know, so forgive me for my ignorance, but when a guitar is refretted doesn't it usually need a new nut, which would mean the tech would need the whole guitar?

There is a trick you can use.
If you dull a long razor blade used in a scrapper, it's very straight.
The thin edge of the long blade becomes a surrogate string.
You file the nut slots till the blade almost touches the 1st fret while laying across the 2nd and 3rd fret.
This is why you want to dull the edge of the blade...it's laying on the smooth frets.
For you builders, this is a good way to rough in nut slots before stringing up the guitar.

Thanks,great tip.

You would need a Razor blade at least 4 1/2" long to do what you describe...where might one find that ?

You would need a Razor blade at least 4 1/2" long to do what you describe...where might one find that ?

Maybe John means a "straight razor"?

Although I have seen some 5" long scraper blades. Take a look here (http://www.shagtools.com/tools/better-tools-5-scraper-blade-10-tube-02-20106.cfm).

Maybe John means a "straight razor"?

Although I have seen some 5" long scraper blades. Take a look here (http://www.shagtools.com/tools/better-tools-5-scraper-blade-10-tube-02-20106.cfm).

Kevin...looked at your Link, but the .036 thickness would kinda defeat his purpose ?....Maybe he'll weigh back in.

You'd only need a bit over 3" to go from the 2nd fret to the nut, so the blades from one of these 4" scrapers would work:

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/e4/e4fad303-3bb9-4866-a51b-4e0335a561a3_300.jpg

[link] (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202247072/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053)

If you use the cutting edge, it will be plenty narrow to get down in the slots.

And why not just use a stack of feeler gauges as a stop under the nut slot files if you're just "roughing in" the nut slot depth? The straight-razor seems like a solution in search of a problem.

To answer the OP, I can't see a legitimate reason to pay for a refret (and new nut) without allowing the tech to do a proper final setup. Which requires the whole guitar. If you're working on body/wiring mods while the pro is doing the fret thing, then make arrangements to drop off the body so the tech can finish the job.

Then again this is answering the question of another OP in a different thread, so as Roseanne Rosannadonna would say...

I got the one I use a very long time ago from a hobby shop.
It's about 1 inch by 6 inches long and very thin, which is important to fit the little E slot.
I have seen some wide scrapper blades at hardware stores from time to time.

You would need a Razor blade at least 4 1/2" long to do what you describe...where might one find that ?

And why not just use a stack of feeler gauges as a stop under the nut slot files if you're just "roughing in" the nut slot depth? The straight-razor seems like a solution in search of a problem.

To answer the OP, I can't see a legitimate reason to pay for a refret (and new nut) without allowing the tech to do a proper final setup. Which requires the whole guitar. If you're working on body/wiring mods while the pro is doing the fret thing, then make arrangements to drop off the body so the tech can finish the job.

Then again this is answering the question of another OP in a different thread, so as Roseanne Rosannadonna would say...

Once some of these guys find the right tech for them and get stunning results time after time, they don't mind shipping stuff to that tech.
A lot of these guys are already good at setting up guitars. They just don't trust themselves to fret jobs as good as their favorite tech.
So why blow the extra money sending a whole guitar when they can just bolt the neck right back on and set it up themselves. It saves them up $50 depending how far it goes.

I always say the best result is to have the whole guitar. No doubt about it.
Costs more money.

You'd only need a bit over 3" to go from the 2nd fret to the nut, so the blades from one of these 4" scrapers would work:

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/e4/e4fad303-3bb9-4866-a51b-4e0335a561a3_300.jpg

[link] (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202247072/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053)

If you use the cutting edge, it will be plenty narrow to get down in the slots.

The primary ground edge is usually a 1/16 - 1/8 of sloped area on those type blades.
That lets you get in a very skinny slot, as long as the nut is not too sloppily made and tall.
Thanks Koko, you have been a great help on here. Unlike some people who want to tear everybody down.