Nut Files

[bassdude51]

If you are only going to do a couple of nuts, it probably isn't worth the money to buy a file set. But, if you do decide to get a file set, I highly recommend UO CHIK YU nut files made in Japan. (Also called UO CHIK HIROSHIMA.)

I've seen them on eBay.

Improvising with drill bits and sand paper can be pretty tuff and poor results.

Make sure that your slot cuts angle toward the tuning posts!!!!!!!!!!!! Cutting them parallel to the neck is wrong! And the strings won't seat in the slots when wound around the tuner posts.

Good luck!

Uo-Chikyu Hiroshima Bass Nut File Set - 7 piece double-sided - 5004 | eBay

If the string is bigger than the file, the file can be rocked from side to side to widen the slot slightly. This nut file set is ideal for cutting or adjusting the slots in the nuts of bass guitars.

www.ebay.com

 

[TeeSee]

I don’t know the English measurements (stone, etc) but no issues with metric, I’m just old and it’s early here so inches comes to mind first.

I remember a few years ago in the day job we were installing some equipment and one of the youngsters was going on about how metric was better and whips out his cm/mm ruler to lay something out then drills the hole in the wrong place. I told him get off the ladder and used my inch tape measure to fix it. Which I suppose just shows it’s not the tool, or units but the operator.

the impetuousness of youth eh? I was the same when I was young, I used to laugh at all the old fellas on the shop floor using cushions when kneeling on the cold concrete floors while fixing machines. Not laughing now, at the age of 30 the first signs of arthritis in my knees started to show, thankfully it has never developed to crippling, but it's something I'd rather do without.

 

[TeeSee]

If you are only going to do a couple of nuts, it probably isn't worth the money to buy a file set. But, if you do decide to get a file set, I highly recommend UO CHIK YU nut files made in Japan. (Also called UO CHIK HIROSHIMA.)

I've seen them on eBay.

Improvising with drill bits and sand paper can be pretty tuff and poor results.

Make sure that your slot cuts angle toward the tuning posts!!!!!!!!!!!! Cutting them parallel to the neck is wrong! And the strings won't seat in the slots when wound around the tuner posts.

Good luck!

Uo-Chikyu Hiroshima Bass Nut File Set - 7 piece double-sided - 5004 | eBay

If the string is bigger than the file, the file can be rocked from side to side to widen the slot slightly. This nut file set is ideal for cutting or adjusting the slots in the nuts of bass guitars.

www.ebay.com

Thanks Bassdude51, I hadn't picked up to file the nut towards the tuning post but that makes a lot of sense to me as you need a guided break angle I suppose rather than a point of stress on the string as it goes onto the posts. Thanks.
I've actually bought a set of Hosco's coming today and they are quite steep in price but I believe a whole lot better than a drill and sandpaper or those things they call nut files which are really acetylene torch cleaners. I never saw the Uo Chikyu earlier and they are about £15 cheaper than the Hosco's. I've now got ten basses. so over the coming years I think I'll be able to put the Hosco's to work.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Thanks Bassdude51, I hadn't picked up to file the nut towards the tuning post but that makes a lot of sense to me as you need a guided break angle I suppose rather than a point of stress on the string as it goes onto the posts. Thanks.
I've actually bought a set of Hosco's coming today and they are quite steep in price but I believe a whole lot better than a drill and sandpaper or those things they call nut files which are really acetylene torch cleaners. I never saw the Uo Chikyu earlier and they are about £15 cheaper than the Hosco's. I've now got ten basses. so over the coming years I think I'll be able to put the Hosco's to work.

Yes, you want a downward angle towards the headstock and if the string paths aren’t fairly straight towards the tuning posts angle the slots a little that way also. You want the front (fretboard) most edge of the nut to be the final string contact point.

 

[TeeSee]

Hi All,
so I've now removed the old nut and placed the new Tusq nut in. I was expecting to sand the thickness of the new nut a little, however the new nut is very sloppy in the groove before even sanding. The old nut still has an interference fit but the new one will just fall out. Before I go any further how can I hold the new nut in place? I was thinking a tiny drop of superglue centrally on the bottom edge of the nut, but if I screw up the filing I'm making a rod for my own back when I have to remove it?
I do have some Threadlock somewhere which is designed to break when you apply a certain amount of torque but not certain whether that would work on a linear bond. What's the usual remedy for a loose nut?

 

[SteveCS]

What's the usual remedy for a loose nut?

Tighter pants? Sorry, I'll see myself out...

 

[TeeSee]

Tighter pants? Sorry, I'll see myself out...

 

[Gilmourisgod]

These just came today, forgot I even ordered them, haha. Don’t need them now but I’ll throw them in the tool bin.

Ugh. I bought a set of these, so no High Horse to ride on, but I found them nearly useless. they just aren't sharp enough to cut anything but very soft material, like plastic, and too short to get a good grip on unless you chuck them into a pin vide or something similar. After thrashing around for years, I finally broke down and bought a set of the Stewmac files. Overpriced? Absolutely, but they WORK. Particularly on harder material like brass. In a pinch, the drillbit and sandpaper is a better alternative.