How were nut slots cut and rounded before nut files?

Files. Files have been around a long time.

 

My buddy trained at Roberto-Venn, too, and I watched him file a nut with a trangle file when he built a dreadnought.

 

Yes, I saw that article and was thinking the same thing. It was Guitar.com, the nice Brit mag . . .

 

hey guys. just checked my needle file set. there is a very small triangle file. also there is a sharp taper flat oval shaped file which could also be used for smaller slots. these file sets are inexpensive and you should have one anyway.

 

I'm surprized that nobody has mentioned using cutting torch tip cleaners. I simply measure the string gauge then use the right sized one for that slot. They are serrated and have the right round profile for making a perfect fit. They are also extremely affordable at any place that sells welding supplies.

 

Cool question. I dunno about old timers...but when I was a teenager, I had a nut shatter at the B string on my only guitar functioning...so, I wrangled the nut from my acoustic (didn't really use it at the time), sanded it down to fit, and used a pocket knife and safety blade to cut the string slots...it worked great!

 

Notch with saw finish with sandpaper on appropriate string

 

Butter knife?

 

Abrasive cord is used to round the bottoms of nut slots.

 

StewMac used to have special sized saw blades.

 

Drima

 

Coping (shorter, D-shaped) saw or hacksaw (linger, rectangular)?

 

Sorry, vike, that was meant for someone else...

 

No idea, should have been Dremel.................not funny now anyway!

 

Use a triangle file. It is the most versatile tool you can buy. Nut file, fret end file (make one edge a polished safety edge put a dot with sharpie on top so safety polished corner is facing down) saddle slot file for resonator or any guitar with floating saddle fret slot file to camber fret slots prior to fretting( this makes the fret go in much smoother and eliminates most tearout when the next person does a refret. I am an RV grad and my fret slotting files just sit in a drawer.

 

The fact that we have string trees and angled headstock suggests that the string passing through / over the nut needs to be pretty firmly seated though not gripped. Even pressure around the strings circumference would seem to be a better answer than excessive pressure on one or two points. The latter could also give rise to more buzzing?