Widening Nut Slots...files, or other method?

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey guys!

One more question for the day before I get working on my fiddles...

How do you go about widening your nut slots to accommodate higher gauge strings? I see there are special files available for the purpose, but I've also read of numerous other methods...sand paper, using the string itself to grind down the nut...

What has worked for you guys in the past?

Thanks much!

Eric

 

[RockStarNick]

I can tell you this: After building about 10 Warmoths myself, and working on all my guitars, I've found that nut slots are one of THE most crucial parts of the setup on any guitar.
If anything is off the slightest bit, you can have excessive ringing, pinging and sticking while tuning, buzzing when playing open strings, etc etc.

I've become pretty good at setup work, and in particular, nuts.

I've tried sandpaper. I've tried cheapo generic hardware store mini files. I've tried sandpaper wrapped around a string. None of them worked good.

Don't mess with anything but a proper nut file, at the proper size.

 

[sinfish]

I can tell you this: After building about 10 Warmoths myself, and working on all my guitars, I've found that nut slots are one of THE most crucial parts of the setup on any guitar.
If anything is off the slightest bit, you can have excessive ringing, pinging and sticking while tuning, buzzing when playing open strings, etc etc.

I've become pretty good at setup work, and in particular, nuts.

I've tried sandpaper. I've tried cheapo generic hardware store mini files. I've tried sandpaper wrapped around a string. None of them worked good.

Don't mess with anything but a proper nut file, at the proper size.

Agreed!

 

[irondeth21]

I just get some old strings in the gauge your going up to and go back in forth in the slot with it until I don't get any real resistance.

 

[steve_k]

I just get some old strings in the gauge your going up to and go back in forth in the slot with it until I don't get any real resistance.

That's what I do........