File for cleaning nut recess

[jammybstard]

Quick question I hope
I'm replacing a loose plastic nut with a new bone nut (not a fenderstyle).
I'm watching YouTube videos, it looks straightforward enough. When the old nut has been removed they clean up the recess with a special file that's smooth on the flat sides.
They never say what that file is called. Can anyone tell me so i can get one?

hope that makes sense

 

[Peegoo]

@jammybstard It's a nut slot bottom file.

The general term for files like this is a "safe file," meaning one or more sides are smooth and 'safe' because they remove only the material you need to remove.

 

[Solaris moon]

I wish I could help but I use an X-acto razor saw to cut the slots on all my nuts for my own guitars. You can probably get one like this somewhere like www.harborfreight.com

Needle File Set, 12 Piece

Amazing deals on this Needle File Set, 12Pc at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[MickM]

Small flat files like you describe (and Peegoo)are found in a set of needle files unless you have an old school hardware store that will sell them individually but a set is usually less than $20.

 

[schmee]

Small flat files like you describe (and Peegoo)are found in a set of needle files unless you have an old school hardware store that will sell them individually but a set is usually less than $20.
View attachment 1080983

^^^ THIS, dont pay through the nose for a "special" guitar file. I have a couple old sets of these small machinist's files and they are invaluable. ....and some of the flat files are smooth edged. Great for deburring the sharp corner of new frets at fretboard edge with also.

But realistically, for a nut slot, the edge of a larger file like an 8" or 10" file has the teeth on it also and they are about an 1/8" thick so fit fine in a nut slot.
Also, buy quality files like those Nicholson's. One thing that is imported from Asia that often isn't good is files....

 

[trev333]

I spotted this small square file on a flea market junk table and immediately knew what I could use it for... cleaning nut slots in the fretboard... 50c..bargain..

 

[Freeman Keller]

I use the side of a 6 inch mill bastard file. Be very careful, it is easy to make the sides or bottom out of square

 

[1bad914]

I use these. They have a couple of safe files in there. Plus it definitely will not break the bank.

Precision Needle File Set, 12 Piece

Amazing deals on this Precision Needle File Set, 12Pc at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Boreas]

I bought a set of these ages ago from StewMac. They no longer sell them, but I would expect something similar is available elsewhere. They were called Micro-chisels. I didn't use them as chisels as much as I used them as scrapers. to clean out glue. I always choose a size smaller than the slot to scrape with little fear of enlarging or distorting the slot.

 

[plusorminuszero]

Quick question I hope
I'm replacing a loose plastic nut with a new bone nut (not a fenderstyle).
I'm watching YouTube videos, it looks straightforward enough. When the old nut has been removed they clean up the recess with a special file that's smooth on the flat sides.
They never say what that file is called. Can anyone tell me so i can get one?

hope that makes sense

Make a bone blank that is a bit narrower than the .125"
slot, and longer. It helps if you make it taller, say 1/4 inch in height. Sand an arc into the base of it which is dead true. I do this on a known true radius which matches the standard slot bottom, using sticky sandpaper. Usually the fingerboard on the guitar I am fitting will work. It takes a little discernment to make it 90 degrees, and you can help get this by cutting a strip of sticky abrasive paper in the slot bottom and sanding away at the blank bottom, checking witness marks on bottom so you know when it is at 90 degrees, as well as a complete arc.

You then cut a strip of sandpaper on to bottom of the tool
you just made, and reverse transcribe that shape into the
nut slot on your guitar. If you made the tool blank a few thousandths under .125", and if you trim the paper back neatly, then you will find it easy to clean up the wood slot.

The nut makes or breaks a good player guitar, and having
no gaps anywhere is part of the job.

eta

I didn't catch that you want advice for a non Fender.
However the same principles apply...just make certain you have 90 degrees. Use a precision, and clean, square to check
your blank before doing any sanding, or just use a true surface file (files are notoriously untrue) or any piece of metal w 90 degree edges, and some sticky 240 ish grit paper.

 

[CCK1]

Using an old nut blank works well for me.
True it up by using a true radius known to match the
slot bottom radius. I usually use a fingerboard fro

You place some sticky sandpaper on the board

Make a bone blank that is a bit narrower than the .125"
slot, and longer. It helps if you make it taller, say 1/4 inch in height. Sand an arc into the base of it which is dead true. I do this on a known true radius which matches the standard slot bottom, using sticky sandpaper. Usually the fingerboard on the guitar I am fitting will work. It takes a little discernment to make it 90 degrees, and you can help get this by cutting a strip of sticky abrasive paper in the slot bottom and sanding away at the blank bottom, checking witness marks on bottom so you know when it is at 90 degrees, as well as a complete arc.

You then cut a strip of sandpaper on to bottom of the tool
you just made, and reverse transcribe that shape into the
nut slot on your guitar. If you made the tool blank a few thousandths under .125", and if you trim the paper back neatly, then you will find it easy to clean up the wood slot.

The nut makes or breaks a good player guitar, and having
no gaps anywhere is part of the job.

eta

I didn't catch that you want advice for a non Fender.
However the same principles apply...just make certain you have 90 degrees. Use a precision, and clean, square to check
your blank before doing any sanding,

Excellent idea!

 

[Meteorman]

You can make your own safe-edged file easily, if you have a belt sander of any sort. Simply sand off the teeth on one edge of your file. These are used frequently in making flintlock longrifle - I’ve made 3 or 4 of them from regular mill bastard files

 

[Troubleandahalf]

I learned here (of course) that getting a set of feeler gauges and filing the appropriate ones are just aces for nut work. Take that StrewMac!
I also took one for the team and ordered a set of luthiers tools on Wish. I find them quite usable, hundreds of dollars in tools for like, 30 bucks? I even forgot just how cheap they were, that's how inexpensive it was.

 

[old wrench]

For cleaning up the bottom of the nut slot - a regular old utility knife blade works very well if you use it like a scraper

The blades are plenty wide enough to span the width of the slot

Hold it at 90 degrees and pull it towards you, so it scrapes the bottom flat

.

 

[dallek1]

Quick question I hope
I'm replacing a loose plastic nut with a new bone nut (not a fenderstyle).
I'm watching YouTube videos, it looks straightforward enough. When the old nut has been removed they clean up the recess with a special file that's smooth on the flat sides.
They never say what that file is called. Can anyone tell me so i can get one?

hope that makes sense

go to stewmac.com

 

[Swingcat]

Quick question I hope
I'm replacing a loose plastic nut with a new bone nut (not a fenderstyle).
I'm watching YouTube videos, it looks straightforward enough. When the old nut has been removed they clean up the recess with a special file that's smooth on the flat sides.
They never say what that file is called. Can anyone tell me so i can get one?

hope that makes sense

Any (fine) file with a straight/flat edge that fits in the channel will work fine. Just remember that you are only cleaning up the channel, and NOT removing wood. also making sure that the bottom of the channel matches the bottom of the new nut (usually flat, but a few are curved).
So, you don't need a special purpose file for that, even though some online tool/parts sellers would LOVE to sell you something for 3X the price!

 

[Arfage]

Quick question I hope
I'm replacing a loose plastic nut with a new bone nut (not a fenderstyle).
I'm watching YouTube videos, it looks straightforward enough. When the old nut has been removed they clean up the recess with a special file that's smooth on the flat sides.
They never say what that file is called. Can anyone tell me so i can get one?

hope that makes sense

stewmac.com should have something like that.

 

[Dorsal900]

Be very careful using the sides of an 8" or 10" - the edges are usually slightly curved, not dead flat.

 

[Mesacrash69]

Quick question I hope
I'm replacing a loose plastic nut with a new bone nut (not a fenderstyle).
I'm watching YouTube videos, it looks straightforward enough. When the old nut has been removed they clean up the recess with a special file that's smooth on the flat sides.
They never say what that file is called. Can anyone tell me so i can get one?

hope that makes sense

It is a safe edge file.

 

[myfenderissues]

Quick question I hope
I'm replacing a loose plastic nut with a new bone nut (not a fenderstyle).
I'm watching YouTube videos, it looks straightforward enough. When the old nut has been removed they clean up the recess with a special file that's smooth on the flat sides.
They never say what that file is called. Can anyone tell me so i can get one?

hope that makes sense

the flat file with only one side abrasive is impossible to find outside outlets that sell guitar making equipment. other than that a regular flat file of some type from a hardware store can be used but it's a better idea to have the correct tool. doing the detail work in that slot requires a precision tool. it's maybe $20 plus shipping. i hate to say stu macdonald, but they have it. they're pricy but sometimes you need the thing and they can supply it