AJs Build LP-1

[WeirdBits]

I saw an interesting idea the other day where someone bought a set of feeler gauges and then apparently filed teeth into them to create a cheap set of nut files. Most gauges probably won't have blades thick enough for strings beyond ~0.040, and they certainly wouldn't be very robust (if even useable)... but, it's an interesting idea and it's possible it could work for those wanting to do a one-off custom nut without lavishing money on proper nut files.

[Brendan]

AJ - let us know how they go! Keen to see.

[AJ]

Will do Brendan, soon as I have the spare $ to get em.. the larger sizes in feeler guages would work, but the sizes below say 20 thou would not as they are too flexible
.. unless you engineer a way to hold either end rigid..

[Brendan]

No worries - my interest is in Bass stuff and that starts at ~45 thou. I think though - I'll take DB's advice and go with the real things when I can afford them - whether that is StewMac or the Japanese ones.

[Fretworn]

I've seen that as well. In a book I borrowed from my local library about building kit guitars when I first started thinking of doing this.

[robin]

Quote from Brendan on June 1, 2013, 23:20
No worries - my interest is in Bass stuff and that starts at ~45 thou. I think though - I'll take DB's advice and go with the real things when I can afford them - whether that is StewMac or the Japanese ones.

Hey Brendan, I know we are not supposed to like toys - erm - tools from B... B.... Bun.... but while your saving up to buy the real thing, it might be worth checking out this one, I found it a little limiting for guitar but it might suit the larger filing needs of bass nuts.

http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_..._P5760077.aspx

rob

[dingobass]

There are a few interesting thoughts running her re: fret files.
From experience, the only way to get a decent slot is by using the real thing.
Dedicated nut files have a rounded shape, to match the string correctly. Other files, such as Jewellers files don’t have the correct profile.
Having said that, you can start the slot with these, but then you are best off to finish the slot with an old string to file the correct profile.
This works well on Bass, but with the plain wire Guitar strings it can be a challenge!
The work around here is to use abrasive cord, available from our friends at Stewmac...

[AJ]

I actually considered grinding some of those jeweler files.. face taper to the edge, center face being the apex or broadest point and edge to the appropriate thickness. but my calibrated eyesight now days is beyond calibration even with the glasses on. so that idea went into the bin. I have difficulty now seeing the makings on my 6" engineers rule.

[AJ]

I also had another thought about the feeler gauges suggestion, if you temper the gauges you can then fold a "backbone " to give it the required stiffness to operate like a mini saw come file , then as Dingo suggested, the cutting string to finish the bottom of the cut to round.

[Brendan]

Quote from robin on June 2, 2013, 21:23
Hey Brendan, I know we are not supposed to like toys - erm - tools from B... B.... Bun.... but while your saving up to buy the real thing, it might be worth checking out this one, I found it a little limiting for guitar but it might suit the larger filing needs of bass nuts.
rob

Thanks Rob - got some of these for general purpose work. In the meantime, I've got a mate with a CNC(?) machine that he thinks can cut what I need - figured I'd give it a go and get close to what I want then finish off with old strings (which I should have shortly!). If it doesn't come out as I want, then it's a couple of bucks of bone and a dead end... If it works, he'll have orders for the rest of my kits. Just have to find something to make the .dxf for him in...