Looking for basic, inexpensive nut files

[Gilmourisgod]

So.. Of COURSE somebody just filed some teeth in a set of feeler gauges and made them into "nut files". I think the feeler gauge sets are $4.99 at Harbor Freight.

 

[John Cribbin]

I don't get the frequent comments about nut files being to expensive to buy.

The last nut I had fitted cost me £50, a set of Hosco bass files cost me £80. They will last several lifetimes.

In fact I'd guess if I'd bought them, made one nut and sold them, it would have been cheaper than the one fitted by a pro.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

So.. Of COURSE somebody just filed some teeth in a set of feeler gauges and made them into "nut files". I think the feeler gauge sets are $4.99 at Harbor Freight.

It's not that hard to make your own custom files. You can buy Tool Steel rectangular bar stock. I usually get the O-1 Oil Hardening alloy. It comes through annealed, fairly soft. You can easily saw it, drill it, file it to whatever shape tool you need. Then heat it with a propane torch to dull red and dunk it in a cup of oil. That hardens it enough to cut steel.

To make a 0.125" bass nut file, buy a 6" long of piece of 1/8" x 3/4" O-1 Tool Steel (about $10 at McMasters). File one edge rounded. You can cut the teeth with a narrow-wedge file, or a small cold chisel. Drill a hole or two in it so you can attach a wood handle. Heat it with a torch and quench it in oil.

Another quick way to make your own bass nut files is to use hacksaw blades. I've shown that on some other threads. I have a set of vintage hacksaw frames all set up to rough cut bass nut slots. I use aluminum nuts on my basses, and the hacksaws will rough cut the slots very quickly and easily. Then I finish the slots with....nut slotting files from your old buddies Stew-Mac.

 

[byacey]

It's not that hard to make your own custom files. You can buy Tool Steel rectangular bar stock. I usually get the O-1 Oil Hardening alloy. It comes through annealed, fairly soft. You can easily saw it, drill it, file it to whatever shape tool you need. Then heat it with a propane torch to dull red and dunk it in a cup of oil. That hardens it enough to cut steel.

To make a 0.125" bass nut file, buy a 6" long of piece of 1/8" x 3/4" O-1 Tool Steel (about $10 at McMasters). File one edge rounded. You can cut the teeth with a narrow-wedge file, or a small cold chisel. Drill a hole or two in it so you can attach a wood handle. Heat it with a torch and quench it in oil.

Another quick way to make your own bass nut files is to use hacksaw blades. I've shown that on some other threads. I have a set of vintage hacksaw frames all set up to rough cut bass nut slots. I use aluminum nuts on my basses, and the hacksaws will rough cut the slots very quickly and easily. Then I finish the slots with....nut slotting files from your old buddies Stew-Mac.

All fine, except by the time you buy the tool steel, shape and cut it, it probably would have been more expedient just to purchase some files. When I bought mine, perhaps 10 years ago, they were about $10.00 US each. I see now they are between 14 to 20 dollars, still reasonable for the right tool for the job.
Luthier Tools - Files and Rasps - Nut Files - Page 1 - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC

 

[byacey]

So.. Of COURSE somebody just filed some teeth in a set of feeler gauges and made them into "nut files". I think the feeler gauge sets are $4.99 at Harbor Freight.

Could be OK for plastic nut material, but if you can cut teeth into the feeler leaf with an ordinary file, it likely won't hold up to cutting slots in bone or metals.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

All fine, except by the time you buy the tool steel, shape and cut it, it probably would have been more expedient just to purchase some files. When I bought mine, perhaps 10 years ago, they were about $10.00 US each. I see now they are between 14 to 20 dollars, still reasonable for the right tool for the job.
Luthier Tools - Files and Rasps - Nut Files - Page 1 - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC

I agree completely. You aren't going to make your own custom files to save money. Unless you can get the materials for cheap and your time has no value. But you can make custom files if you need something you can't buy.

 

[Bassamatic]

I recall seeing a set of these and a lot of other guitar tools on one of the China shopping sites. Not AliBaba.

 

[badgrandad]

I went to Harbor Freight and bought a set of the grinding bits for a dremel tool. $6.99! Just pick out the one that fits the slot and rub it by hand. Works great and had one for each string size plus some extra.

 

[KidAmnesia]

Another inexpensive option is to wrap wet/dry aluminum oxide sandpaper around the appropriate sized drill bit and use it as a file. Once you get the depth pretty much where you want it, you can switch to 800 or 1000 paper to polish the slot for a super smooth finish.

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I made a few guitar nuts using old strings (the rustier the better)mounted on a jewelers saw. They turned out pretty good. It's faster with the right files, but not necesarily better.

 

[Greenstreet]

I made a few guitar nuts using old strings (the rustier the better)mounted on a jewelers saw.

Mm. The jeweler's saw frame is a good idea.

They turned out pretty good. It's faster with the right files, but not necesarily better.

I agree. The string is the correct size and radius, and less aggressive action means smoother string travel.

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