Here's a tip. To cut perfect slots, measure the height of the 1st fret, then, stack up feeler gauges until that number + 0.010" or so. Slide em, up, against the nut and cut slots until you hit the feeler gauges. Perfect slots every time and it's impossible to cut them too low that way. Or start with fret height plus 20 thousandths.
This is one of my favorite videos of yours for a while, Matt. I have so many uses for Paint Sticks and "craft" popsicle sticks bought from Walmart. I keep finding new uses all the time. I used six of the large ones this morning. They look like Tongue Depressors. LOL. Thank you so much.
Trick of the trade. Take a pencil and put it on your belt sander. Grind away the wood till the graphite core is visible from the bottom side. Sharpen with a knife. Now you can lay it flat on your fretboard and align it on your first two or three frets, depending just on how long your pencil is. With the tip of the pencil on your inserted bone nut, you can now easily mark the lowest radius possible for how deep you can cut the slots. Using an ungrinded pencil will give you the top radius of the nut.
Stew Mac has the double sided nut files which Matt recommends and has had for 10 years and look awesome. Stew Mac also has the gauged nut files which are flexible but for specific string gauges. I’m a hobbyist, but know the right tool for the job makes it worth the cost, but am torn between which set to go with. Anyone used both and have a preference?
I 3D print em, pre-slotted and sized to fit. Just has to be solid with 100% infill. PLA is about as hard as bone and takes as many licks of the slot file as bone. It's way more like bone than those plastic nuts on cheap guitars (I hate those things). And I can make all kinds of pretty colors, including off-white that won't make anybody do a double take.
IDEA FOR VIDEO!!! What would a guitar made out of MDF be like? Solid and/or hollow? I think it would surprise a lot of folks. I am using the hell out of this video this minute. Thank you so much.
Here's a tip. To cut perfect slots, measure the height of the 1st fret, then, stack up feeler gauges until that number + 0.010" or so. Slide em, up, against the nut and cut slots until you hit the feeler gauges. Perfect slots every time and it's impossible to cut them too low that way. Or start with fret height plus 20 thousandths.
This way can work extremely well.
Very useful vid, thanks! For metric peeps elsewhere in the world, 100 thousandths of an inch is 0.1in which is 2.54mm
This is one of my favorite videos of yours for a while, Matt. I have so many uses for Paint Sticks and "craft" popsicle sticks bought from Walmart. I keep finding new uses all the time. I used six of the large ones this morning. They look like Tongue Depressors. LOL. Thank you so much.
This was worth watching just for the paint stick method, thanks!
Loved the sign off on this one lol
And I learned something today (again). Thanks for sharing Matt.
Trick of the trade. Take a pencil and put it on your belt sander. Grind away the wood till the graphite core is visible from the bottom side. Sharpen with a knife. Now you can lay it flat on your fretboard and align it on your first two or three frets, depending just on how long your pencil is. With the tip of the pencil on your inserted bone nut, you can now easily mark the lowest radius possible for how deep you can cut the slots. Using an ungrinded pencil will give you the top radius of the nut.
That is a good trick too
I'll be saving money on nut blanks from now on! Thanks for the boatload of tips!
Great stuff! I go back and use your video where you use the Stewmac digital nut slotting gauge, all the time. Thanks for sharing as always.
Dude....that paint stick trick is life changing, lol. Thanks for sharing your tricks!
Any time!
Excellent content, Sir!
Thank you kindly my friend
Bloody good video that...And I did indeed learn a few tricks. Thanks.
Very useful thanks
Stew Mac has the double sided nut files which Matt recommends and has had for 10 years and look awesome. Stew Mac also has the gauged nut files which are flexible but for specific string gauges. I’m a hobbyist, but know the right tool for the job makes it worth the cost, but am torn between which set to go with. Anyone used both and have a preference?
Was wanting to see how u did the slots , maybe nxt time . Diggin the channel
Great teacher.
Thank you!
This vid was right on time thanks! 👍to Larue.. I have a couple of their instruments 😊
They make the good stuff kids go for
I 3D print em, pre-slotted and sized to fit. Just has to be solid with 100% infill. PLA is about as hard as bone and takes as many licks of the slot file as bone. It's way more like bone than those plastic nuts on cheap guitars (I hate those things). And I can make all kinds of pretty colors, including off-white that won't make anybody do a double take.
That's cool
Do you have this posted on thingiverse or anywhere else?
Sounds good. Never installed a nut but I’ve been happy with micarta and plastic on my guitars
I kinda just want to see a video on "Matt's Tips & Tricks For Paint Sticks". 😎
Ahoy there Matt, great tips, KISS all the way, Thanks!!!
You bet!
Wish TH-cam allowed us to click like more than once…🤘
Me too my friend
IDEA FOR VIDEO!!! What would a guitar made out of MDF be like? Solid and/or hollow? I think it would surprise a lot of folks. I am using the hell out of this video this minute. Thank you so much.
Great suggestion!
Perfect timing... nice shirt by the way. Lol
Thanks my friend
Awesome!
Thanks so much my friend
I had to delete my browser history after clicking on this video
You did?
♥️🤘
Thanks my friend
totally use paint sticks. Second the motion!
thanks brougham
Can NEVER have TOO MUCH nut meat
Guitar Nuts or String Nuts or String Nuts for Guitar Nuts?
Both I would think.
Y'all know a few nuts