Official Luthiers Forum!

Its time to get a new set of nut files because one of the files is not cutting properly( never did really!)
So, I would like to know what you guys are using and your opinions regarding quality.

Thanks

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Peter I like these from Stew-Mac and I have tried others too but these seem to help me to easily keep the angle at around 7.5 degrees.

Thanks Hesh,
I am leaning towards those or similar...

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

There was a guy on this list who used those other Stewmac files with the coloured handles but I noticed he sold one to Tony Karol not long before he left here

Cheers

Kim

I have the stew mac files too. I tried a couple of sets I bought off ebay and the quality was not there. It was a waste of money. Now i stick with the well known luthier supply stores like Stew mac and luthiers mercantile.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

There was a guy on eBay who was selling nut files that were basically
feeler gauges with teeth cut into them....Normans Nut Files or
something like that, cheaper than a full set of the StewMac
files.  Jammy has a set and says he likes them.



Rich has also used propane torch cleaning files that go for something like $3 each.



Jammy...?

Rich...? 

I just placed an order with Stew Mac for their portion of my tooling up.
Part of the order was a set of the single edge nut files. I ordered all the
widths I'll need except for the .056". They're sold out of it and
anything similar in every kind of file they offer and don't know when
they'll be restocked.

I got a set of Norman's and they do the job fine, very quick fool proof system as you use the upper frets to gauge the slot depth.

The torch cleaners also work OK but are fiddly. you need to cut the slot with a razor saw and needle file only shaping the bottom of the slot with them. They bend and buckle and give stress in use. IMO you would only use them if nothing else is available.

Having tried them all I reckon to properly finesse the slots, you realy do need to spend the mo and get a good set of files such as the Gobbet style that Hesh shows, or the two in one style with the coloured handles. Of the later, the Ibanez style with the tapered tip are good as they help the unwary to avoid gouging the finish on the headstock when ramping the cut toward the tuner post.

Cheers

Kim

The double edge files are alright, like the StewMac or Ibanez ones. My
favorite however would still be the joint edge files like those pictured above.
I prefer the cut on the Grobet files over the StewMac ones, but I still have a
number of each to fill out my set. Eventually I assembled a set that I'm
satisfied with consisting of Grobet, StewMac, and some unknown import
files. including all the files I ended up not including in the set, it ended up
costing several hundred, but I'm very happy with it now. Of course not to
trust sizes as labeled, I made sure to make cuts and check with feeler
gauges to relabel each one. Here's the set in the back of this photo.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

$93.50 gives you these precision Ibanez files from LMI, I like them.

Following Frank in Palo Alto, I added some little handles using the bulb of a pipette tube filled with epoxy. You have to be careful using the smallest ones or you will bend them. They are very accurate with round bottoms.

I have a Bass Nut file .120" that is from StewMac, ordered specially for a five string neck. Accurate slot, square bottom. Must return it.

I've used some double files in the past that I liked, they had a nice vee to the slot and round bottoms. Since they were someone elses, I don't know the brand and they were mucho old, but resembled the doubles from StewMac.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey] You have to be careful using the smallest ones or
you will bend them. [/QUOTE]

Oh yeah. This is one reason why it's a good idea to keep a block of wax next
to your nut files. Keeping files waxed helps clear debris, and more
importantly will lubricate the sides to help prevent binding if the slot gets
deep. If the thinner files bind while pushing they can snap in a second.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

[QUOTE=David Collins]Keeping files waxed helps clear debris, and more

importantly will lubricate the sides to help prevent binding if the slot gets
deep. If the thinner files bind while pushing they can snap in a second.[/QUOTE]

How about corrosion?  I have a set similar to the ones Bruce shows above.  They came packed in a terribly viscous grease.  I cleaned them before and after use with a bit of light honing oil, and they still corroded like crazy.  The small ones were almost unusable after a couple of nuts.  Is wax the trick?

-Ben

Dunno about corrosion. Those Ibanez files are one brand I never tried, but
I've not had any issue with corrosion on my files, even before I started using
wax. Perhaps it's just because they are in frequent daily use, but I'm not
sure. If they did corrode there are some good file cleaners (or chemicals sold
as "file sharpeners") out there that should take care of that.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Peter,

I had read about the norman nut files but could not bring up his sight the last time the last time I tried.

Last week I decided to try to make to own from an old rusty set of feeler gages. It was quite easy and they cut very well, even the .010.

Monday I am going to get a set that I can read the numbers on and make a full set.

I was thinking of posting a tutorial if anyone is interested.

Cecil

Peter, I'd also recommend getting a couple of the Stew Mac gauged saws as well to establish the slots. You don't need the complete set to cover typical acoustic string gauges. I also have the double edged StewMac nut files to finish up. I have always used these so I can't really compare against the other recommendations.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

[QUOTE=erikbojerik] There was a guy on eBay who was selling nut files that were basically
feeler gauges with teeth cut into them....Normans Nut Files or
something like that, cheaper than a full set of the StewMac
files.  Jammy has a set and says he likes them.

Rich has also used propane torch cleaning files that go for something like $3 each.

Jammy...?
Rich...? 
[/QUOTE]
Yes I all most bought those but i was cautious about it.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey]

$93.50 gives you these precision Ibanez files from LMI, I like them.

Following Frank in Palo Alto, I added some little handles using the bulb of a pipette tube filled with epoxy. You have to be careful using the smallest ones or you will bend them. They are very accurate with round bottoms.

I have a Bass Nut file .120" that is from StewMac, ordered specially for a five string neck. Accurate slot, square bottom. Must return it.

I've used some double files in the past that I liked, they had a nice vee to the slot and round bottoms. Since they were someone elses, I don't know the brand and they were mucho old, but resembled the doubles from StewMac.[/QUOTE]
I bought a set like these from stew mac years ago. They don't sell them anymore.

_________________
Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

[QUOTE=Cecil]Peter,



I had read about the norman nut files but could not bring up his sight the last time the last time I tried.



Last week I decided to try to make to own from an old rusty set of feeler gages. It was quite easy and they cut very well, even the .010.



Monday I am going to get a set that I can read the numbers on and make a full set.



I was thinking of posting a tutorial if anyone is interested.



Cecil [/QUOTE]

Norman's Ebay site


 

I also have a set of the norman files, and I think they work great.they also don't seem to rust

I have a set of the Stew Mac files as well as a set of Grobet machinist's model maker's files.  Thr Grobet files are top notch (bad pun).   

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

I have the double edge nut files that Allied sells. I bought them 3 years ago for $75. They sell for $85 now

I'm not even close to an expert, but I've used these on all the guitars I've made as well as installing new nuts on 3 other guitars.

So for my limited use, they work great and the price was right. Now if I was doing a lot more set up work, I'd probably go with something a bit better.

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You can extend the life of (some) files by soaking them in vinegar overnight, after cleaning the gullets out. Often
works well, as do stronger acids, but the vinegar's safer.

I use the Stew Mac nut slotting rule to mark the nut and I start my slots with a fine saw blade .010 or so and complete them with the StewMac double edge files. I round over the back edges of the slot so the strings don't bind and finish up with abrasive cord, also available from Stew Mac.

 

Rod, I think those nut files are great. They were more of a standard tool until
they dropped from production sometime in the 80's. I'm really glad that they
are available again, and probably would at least have a set on hand had they
been available when I was putting my set together.

And as to the the style I use, the most common and probably highest quality
ones are made by Grobet. They are also not specific to our trade, and are
referred to as joint round edge files by manufacturers. You can search
around from file makers and jeweler supply sources, but unlike many
crossover tools they don't seem to be any cheaper than just buying them
through a lutherie supply source.

Grobet

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

My set of Norman's files are great. Nice smooth cutting (especially if you use a little wax as cutting lube). My only quibble is that they are quite small, which makes them tricky to hold comfortably. I'm sure it'd be possible to knock up some kind of handle for them though