Nut slot files?

[Robert]

Where do you recommend to buy nut slot files? Stew-Mac has them but they aren't cheap. $25.45 each.

I'd like a set of 6.

Recommendations?

 

[M29]

These are the best I could find. I think they were around 70.00 but I would have to check again. Good quality with the size marked. I think this is where I got them. http://www.lmii.com/Default.asp

M

 

[Perfect Stranger]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a set of welding tip cleaners .....or go to an
automotive store and get a set of spark plug gap blade, rough up one edge of
them and viola`...you have a great set of nut files. Less than $5 for either
way you go....

 

[Robert]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a set of welding tip cleaners .....or go to an
automotive store and get a set of spark plug gap blade, rough up one edge of
them and viola`...you have a great set of nut files. Less than $5 for either
way you go....

Welding tip cleaners or spark plug gab blades huh? Never heard that idea before. I'll check it out!

 

[ZMAN]

Robert, there is a tool for every job. Take my word for it. You can "make do" with just about anything. Pay the bucks and get the right tool for the job. You will buy it once and it will last you the rest of your life. I learned that lesson many, many years ago. My way of thinking is buy the best, buy it once, have it forever!

 

[Perfect Stranger]

I've used the above and blow to slot half a dozen guitars and both work perfectly.
Being 57 I doubt I will live another 50 years so I don't really feel the need to pay 10
or 20 times that amount for one that will last 50 years. Perhaps if I were a
luthier and made nuts for 5 or 6 guitars a week I'd feel differently.

Welding tip cleaners

Feeler guage/gap tool

Be sure and rough up one side of the blades with a file.

 

[evenkeel]

If you intend to cut new nuts from blanks and/or intend to do a lot of adjustments then a top quality, pro set of files is a good investment.

I bought a set of "Noman" files on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Norman-Guitar-N...ries?hash=item45edf319f0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

These are not the right tool if you intend to do a lot of nut work. It seems the steel tends to dull a bit to quickly. However, for the occcasional adjustment they work great. I've also heard good things about the feeler gauge, welding tip cleaner strategy. For the occasional adjustment, I'm sure they will work fine.

 

[snarph]

If you intend to cut new nuts from blanks and/or intend to do a lot of adjustments then a top quality, pro set of files is a good investment.

I bought a set of "Noman" files on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Norman-Guitar-N...ries?hash=item45edf319f0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

These are not the right tool if you intend to do a lot of nut work. It seems the steel tends to dull a bit to quickly. However, for the occcasional adjustment they work great. I've also heard good things about the feeler gauge, welding tip cleaner strategy. For the occasional adjustment, I'm sure they will work fine.

I have a set of these and they work very well but as mentioned before the the welding tip cleaners have been used by several people with good results

But also mentioned the right tool for the job is the best practice

 

[Robert]

I got some welding tip cleaners, and it worked fine for cleaning out or doing small adjustments to the nut slot. But I think more serious nut jobs need better tools!

 

[MichaelE]

Robert, there is a tool for every job. Take my word for it. You can "make do" with just about anything. Pay the bucks and get the right tool for the job. You will buy it once and it will last you the rest of your life. I learned that lesson many, many years ago. My way of thinking is buy the best, buy it once, have it forever!

...or you can buy it twice.

Words I try to live by as well.

 

[M29]

Amen

 

[Hasse.li]

Bought my files from Stew-Mac, double edged. Works fine but it´s a bit hard to see witch side to use when 0.012" / 0.016" is on the same file, can´t find any marking on them.