I know in Josh Gayou's advanced instruction booklet, he says a good set of slotting files will serve purposes well, and i don't doubt that; but I have priced the set on a number of different sites, and it has become something of a luxury item in these wintery economic times. Anyone have any suggestions for slotting on the cheap?
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Yeah, all those things work, but if you're going to be doing this in any numbers .... the files will pay for themselves in time save and aggravation avoided.
I use that for most of the small slots, and then a torch tip cleaner set to finish the bottoms for a nice tight fit for each string. On the bigger slots I use a fretsaw blade to start the notch and the torch cleaner to finish it up.
I've been using the torch-tip tool for a while now... Works well. I rough out the slot with a hacksaw blade, and then bring it the right size for the string with the tool.
Harbor Freight has 'em for dead cheap; the Sears job is a bit more.
I have read where you can sand down hacksaw blades to desired thicknesses for a cheap set. Haven't tried it but actually bought some at Lowes this week and was going to grind them down to create different thicknesses for filing nuts and saddles. You could probably make 2-3 small slot files out of one hacksaw blade using plastic wrap as a handle. Can make variations that cut on draw or push... would experiment before using on good media :)
Not fast or the best method but it works ok and gives a good end result. Cutting torch tip cleaning files. They come in a large number of diameters and a set is around $5.00. I have built enough guitars that I am going to invest in a set of proper nut files with a little of my uncle sam refund, but these little files have kept me going for a year.
I just recently bought a $10 mini file set from Home Depot. Name brand is General, it has a triangular mini file that I used on my last build and there is no buzzing now. The notch it makes will seat the string snug...so far. And it was cheap.
Replies
Yeah, all those things work, but if you're going to be doing this in any numbers .... the files will pay for themselves in time save and aggravation avoided.
AFKAM
Xacto makes a little keyhole saw blade that fits into their medium size handle http://www.xacto.com/Product/X215
I use that for most of the small slots, and then a torch tip cleaner set to finish the bottoms for a nice tight fit for each string. On the bigger slots I use a fretsaw blade to start the notch and the torch cleaner to finish it up.
I've been using the torch-tip tool for a while now... Works well. I rough out the slot with a hacksaw blade, and then bring it the right size for the string with the tool.
Harbor Freight has 'em for dead cheap; the Sears job is a bit more.
Not fast or the best method but it works ok and gives a good end result. Cutting torch tip cleaning files. They come in a large number of diameters and a set is around $5.00. I have built enough guitars that I am going to invest in a set of proper nut files with a little of my uncle sam refund, but these little files have kept me going for a year.
Brian Hunt.
Hi Scotty,
We had a discussion on the Brits group which has a few suggestions. http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/thebritsarecoming/forum/topics/...
David