How to carve the neck for the nut?

[NickInMesa]

My neck is almost ready (oil still drying) and I will need to carve for the nut.

Below is how it looks now (except it's Tung oil polished now).

What tool / method should I use? Thanks!!!

[gfried84]

the easiest way to do it would be to cut off the remaining length of the fingerboard and do a gibson style nut and glue it in place. In order to do the fender type nut slot you have to measure carefully for a 1/8" wide slot from the edge of the zero fret back towards the headstock. It is a tricky job to do cleanly and you must take the saws kerf into consideration. You also need a way to get a perfectly square bottom so the nut will seat properly. I usually draw a line exactly where the cut should be and use a stewmac radius block as a guide for my fret saw blade to keep the cut as straight as possible. Also make sure you don't make any adjustments at the edge of the zero fret otherwise you will ruin the intonation. I then break the piece out with a chisel and use files to clean up the slot.

[NickInMesa]

Thanks for the help.

I thought too that I would have to indeed make a nice cut behind and then remove the rest with a file.

I suppose this is a job for Mr Dremel.

Also if I cut the back cut too close, I can always sand the the proper width. If I cut it too far, I can always use a little bit of wood filler.