Official Luthiers Forum!

What is the useful life of nut files? This is the Stew-Mac 0.016 that I have used on about 6 guitars. Are there better files or is it my technique?

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Man - that looks horrible!

I have two sets of Ibanez nut files (with the fret rounding files, too) from back in the late 70's.
I bought one from International Luthiery Supply in Tulsa (are they still around?), and back in the early 80's banjo maker Jay Darmstadter gave me a set so I'd have spares. They are still in good shape.

(of course, I have needle file sets and Exacto saws I use for nuts, too)

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

My nut files are decades old. I did buy some of those double sides files, and didn't like them, so I went back to my old ones. Did it get damaged by other steel tools sitting in a tool box or drawer? I don't know how technique would damage a file, but maybe I'm overlooking something. I've got a .012"/.016" double sided Stew Mac file I don't use. (It's actually sitting on my computer desk) PM me your address and I'll put it in a envelope and send it Monday. Maybe you just got a bad file?

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Really, carbide nuts are overkill....

_________________
Build log

Do you need to clean that bad boy? I can't tell by the photo, but it kind of looks like it.

Run a card file with the grooves of the file to clean them out, or even better use a fine bristled stainless steel wire brush.

I find it hard to believe that bone or plastic would dull a file after 6 guitars. I would contact StewMac. There are sometimes problems with heat treatment. If a batch gets out without heat treating, the files would wear out quick!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

There's a lot of complaints about those guys on the internet and I haven't been able to find any web site, so maybe they shut down.

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Billy - the file is not dirty... It is worn out. I would have thought it would have lasted longer than 6 nuts...

Woody - That is a very generous offer. I'll PM my address.

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

That file seems to have an edge that shouldn't be there.

I'm a little puzzled here, like the rest. A file might gum up, and will likely never experience real wear before the owner kicks it, but that one seems to be chipped?

_________________
Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I've never seen a file chipped like that.
I've made plenty of brass nuts, and they wouldn't do that to a file.

Perhaps it was stored wrong? Like tossed in a drawer with other metal tools?

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Chris - I stored the file in the sleave it came in. I didn't come in contact with anything that could have done that.

I'm as puzzled as you guys are... I sent an e-mail to Stew-Mac. Unfortunately, their e-mail system won't let you send a photo. Maybe if they reply, I'll send them one. You know, ...I said 6 guitars but it was probably only 5 before it wore out. I've bought my bone nuts from LMI. ...must have been a defective file...

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I've had a few defective items from Stew-Mac - they've always made it right and with no difficulties.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Might have gotten brittle during the heat treating process.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

You shouldn't be able to chip them like that. I'm with everyone else that says ask for a replacement.

Like!

_________________
Another day, another dollar.

I have three of those files that I've used for years. I thought I had finally worn one out last week. It had a large part in the middle that wouldn't cut. On a hunch, I washed it and toweled it dry. It's as good as new now. Something's wrong if yours is worn out in such a short time. Mine have done 100 nuts or more.

That's awful. Do u have kids that get into ur tools?

SM will replace it... No worries

Mike

I've never had that problem, but I've never met a nut file that I liked. None that I've tried cut a round bottomed slot. I end up stoning them to a round profile, which makes them very dull. So I cut to approximate depth with a pippin, refine with my dulled "nut file", then zero in, and polish with sand paper on edge of a feeler gauge. 800 grit comes close enough to take it to the buffing wheel. (Finer grits lodge in the pores of the bone--unsightly, and abrasive to the strings.)

It should of! I would definitely contact StewMac over this they would have records of when you purchased. As for photo's sent to StewMac you can send a link to a photo sharing site like photobucket.

Or ..even from here download/file.php?id=33803&t=1 I feel smarter now!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

I found it difficult to believe that any could dull after three nuts, but several years ago, I tried, "Norman's Nutfiles", in my search for a better mousetrap...

Stewmac's customer service is peerless, they will stand behind everything they sell; return it. That said, I don't care for the V-profile nutfiles at all.

_________________
https://soundcloud.com/jeffreylsuits/he ... -runnin-13

And, may I ask, were they a better mousetrap?

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

ILS used to be one of my favorite suppliers, but they are no more. It was a family-run business, and once the founder died (a Mister Brown, I believe), his wife managed it for many years. The son was brought into the business, but never made it go after his mother retired.
The gauged files from Stew Mac have lasted me many years. I also have some of the triangular ones, but they don't get much use.

_________________
John

I almost hate to admit some personal satisfaction on hearing this but it is what it is. I worked at ILS in the early '80s cause the son had said he had no interest in the business. Harold Brown hired me to be his heir apparant. But he could not let go of complete control. After 2 years supposedly the son suddenly had an interest and I was quickly shown the door. At least I got to know the luthiery business and got some good wood out of the deal.

"I found it difficult to believe that any could dull after three nuts,"

In a word, no. Norman had an interesting business model, and is no longer selling on ebay.

_________________
https://soundcloud.com/jeffreylsuits/he ... -runnin-13

They were just feeler gauges with slots cut in them. They did dull awfully fast. I sold mine on eBay in about 5 minutes. They're good for a beginner but anybody serious about making nuts should buy some proper files.

I ended up buying every gauged file that Stewmac sells and I've never regretted it. I have made a lot of nuts, and set up a lot more. I also bought this cool magnetic book from a scrapbooking store to keep them in. Nifty!