How do you shave your nuts?

[joe_cpwe]

Having rudimentary tools around the house, how do you shave down a Graphtec TUSQ nut to achieve the correct hieght? Knife, file, coarse sandpaper, other.....

Fwiw, in my limited experience with TUSQ nuts, the slots are cut good and guitars stay in tune very good after installation.

 

[tanta07]

1. Never.

2. If #1 fails, VERY carefully.

 

[Guy Incognito]

Having rudimentary tools around the house, how do you shave down a Graphtec TUSQ nut to achieve the correct hieght? Knife, file, coarse sandpaper, other.....

Fwiw, in my limited experience with TUSQ nuts, the slots are cut good and guitars stay in tune very good after installation.

If you're installing a new Tusk nut don't lower each slot. Shave off the bottom until Heights are correct. For that you can use a flat file or sand paper on a flat surface. Do small amounts at a time (don't rush). If you go too far you'll have to shim. You may not be taking the same amount off both sides (E to E) but when finished you need the bottom flat and the bottom square to the sides of the nut (front to back, not E to E).

I might tend to think sand paper could be better because the bone/tusq can really clog the teeth of the file.

 

[rolandson]

File and sand paper.

Sanding the underside to achieve the desired string height, assuming the slots are to one's liking.
Filing to shape the top...

About ⅓ of the string sits above the top of the slot on a properly cut nut.

 

[StratoMutt]

If you're installing a new Tusk nut don't lower each slot. Shave off the bottom until Heights are correct. For that you can use a flat file or sand paper on a flat surface. Do small amounts at a time (don't rush). If you go too far you'll have to shim. You may not be taking the same amount off both sides (E to E) but when finished you need the bottom flat and the bottom square to the sides of the nut (front to back, not E to E).

Ahyep.

Having made a bone nut from a blank (three tries) on my last assembly, I learned a few things. Cut the slots to where you know they are functioning properly and correctly radiused, then slowly remove from the bottom to achieve proper first fret clearance.

Even with a pre-cut Tusq, you cannot be sure the slots are correct. It varies with each installation. With what I learned in bone, I'd never use a pre-sized / cut nut of any material.

 

[Intune]

That’s one way to do it, shave the bottom down to achieve the proper string height. This takes time. The Tusq nuts I find I ever only have to lower the high E and B string.

So I just use wood glue(very little) and install the nut. Cut the slots a little deeper to get right. Then just tape off and shape the nut with a small file. I usually round everything over until I can slide my hand up to the nut and not feel a edge.

Then finally sand lightly with 400 up to 2000 and then polish. This is a before and after before the polish.

 

[StratoMutt]

File and sand paper.

Sanding the underside to achieve the desired string height, assuming the slots are to one's liking.
Filing to shape the top...

About ⅓ of the string sits above the top of the slot on a properly cut nut.

Be sure to sand on a right angle. I have a .5" chunk of polycarbonate cut at a precise right angle like a fence on a table saw when sanding.

Fender curved nut slots make that more difficult. The Warmoth necks I use have proper flat bottoms, making sanding easier.

I use about one half above on wound strings and flush with the nut on plain strings on the recommendation of Stewmac. Go there for great tips on making / cutting nuts.

 

[axejock]

That's kind of a personal question!

 

[StratUp]

Sandpaper, 240, on a flat surface, wet with a little dish soap I. The water. Go slow, test frequently.

If you have the old nut you can match the BOTTOM of the string slots and draw a pencil line on the new nut to ballpark it in.

 

[Impulsive guppy]

It helps to attach the sandpaper to something like a thick piece of glass or marble tile.

 

[3bolt79]

How do I? Carefully, very carefully.

 

[Ian Ashdown]

 

[RHL87]

With great care

 

[unionjack515]

Your mom does it for me.

 

[Fenderbaum]

With Gillette razor and shaving foam..

 

[revtime]

I either have my wife or my girlfriend do it

 

[Sarnodude]

with a non-rusty razor. I don't sail much.

 

[Later]

Alcohol torch and a fast hand!

 

[Later]

Seriously, I use one of these.

 

[Later]

Your mom does it for me.

Mom died in 1985