10” Nicholson file leveling and neck shaping

[highwaycat]

Here’s a 10” Nicholson file 1 foot overall length. It’s an equalling file and is much lighter than my half round Nicholson file made in Brazil.
One side is a round edge one side is flat.
It’s very straight against my straightedge.
One minute of leveling and these frets are done.
I can use it to file the volute on a neck.

 

[eallen]

I find it generally best on fret leveling to use an object at least as long as a fretboard to cover all frets at once. That allows the frets to all be leveled in relationship to each other rather than only in relationship to those in closer proximity to them.

Eric

 

[highwaycat]

I have three long granite beams I use mostly. Shorter tools come in handy too.

 

[Peegoo]

The file will be easier to use if you slice off the tang and the toe, round over the ends, and polish them smooth. Like-a-dis:

 

[chaosman12]

The file will be easier to use if you slice off the tang and the toe, round over the ends, and polish them smooth.

How do you cut and polish a file?

 

[Peegoo]

How do you cut and polish a file?

Use a grinder to make a shallow groove across each side of the file and then snap it off in a vise.

Then you go back to the grinder and make a round-over on the cut end. A belt sander will work too.

Keep the file dipped in water to prevent overheating the steel; if you burn the steel it will become too soft.

Finish with successively finer grades of emery paper, ending with 600 grit.