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Need advice on fixing my nut

I somehow chipped off the top of a bone nut while building this thing and instead of fixing it like a smart person I filed it over and finished the guitar. So now my nut is too short and I'm undecided on how to fix it. Note this is a zero fret and the nut is only there to protect the fretboard and space the strings.

It's stuck in there with superglue. I could take the heat gun to it and then knock it out but I'm afraid the heat might loosen other glues in the area, that headstock veneer is less than 1/4" thick. Or I could leave it and use a string tree/retainer to keep the strings inline. If I used a string tree I'd want a nice one because I don't want to ugly up that ebony headstock. Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Walter on August 26, 2014 at 7:31am

i do zero frets too. only way to go. how many strings? you could drill closely spaced holes and put brass or steel brads to guide the strings. or bend some nice wire into very narrow "u" shapes, drill holes and fit them in. superglue. the brads could even come up from the wood. complicated but i bet it would look great.

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Permalink Reply by wormil on August 26, 2014 at 8:47am

If I don't replace the nut, I saw this idea.

Daniel, it's a 4 string.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on August 26, 2014 at 9:09am

Depending on how much super glue you used to glue it down, you can usually knock it loose with a hammer and a block of wood. It will most likely come off with a tap or too. I do that on my builds when I hose up a nut. I only use a drop to hold it in place, since the string tension usually is enough to keep it in place.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on August 26, 2014 at 2:23pm

Yep. If it were a cheap plastic nut you'd be stuck cos super glue pretty much melts into those, but it doesn't penetrate bone deeply at all, gentle tap should knock it loose

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Permalink Reply by Wade on August 26, 2014 at 1:49pm

How about a very shallow nut just behind the zero fret? I've learned myself to glue the nut last and even then I use white glue for easy removal. Let us know how it works out.

Wade

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on August 26, 2014 at 4:01pm

Hot thin knife blade, and a quick sideways tap should have it right out.

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Permalink Reply by Muddy Creek Guitars on August 26, 2014 at 4:10pm

If you wish to build the nut up, mix super glue with baking soda. Put it on top of the existing nut and shape it. Work fast because it dries fast and super hard. When it's dry you can file it, sand it, cut it. I've seen videos on youtube on how to do this.

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on August 26, 2014 at 4:18pm

I'd cut around the edges with a new xacto blade and knock it out... Acetone softens superglue, but it eats finishes, too

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Permalink Reply by wormil on August 26, 2014 at 4:51pm

Thanks all. I just need a little encouragement. I warmed it with a heat gun then it popped right out with a couple light taps. I should be able to finish it within the next couple days and I'll post to the gallery.