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How do you guys do it? After routing out the slot, the slot has perfect half circles at the ends and I want the saddle to match perfectly. Also, I use a 1/4" saddle and my bit is the same size down spiral. Slot comes out perfect, but the saddle doesn't sit in there tight. It's not loose by any means but not snug and falls out if flipping the bridge. Is there a quick fix for that?

I get the saddle ends close on the disc sander & finish with files & sanding blocks.
If you need to add a tiny bit of thickness to a saddle, a thin coat of super glue can do the job.

I thickness sand my saddles to the slot using my Performax. Until they slip in with some pressure, then I shape them, and by the time I polish them, they are the exact right fit.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Why not make a sanding guide if sorts. Cut a half slot in a piece of wood just like the saddle slot but oversize enough to compensate for sandpaper. Glue sandpaper in the curved end of the slot. Now you have a 1/8" radius sanding block for sanding the ends of the saddles.

It is worth a try.

Todd, where can I find oversized blanks? The widest ones I've seen are these 1/4" blanks.

Apparently 1/4 = 6.35 mm - so if you could find a 6mm bit, route your slot, then sand/thin the saddle to fit?

http://mdmetric.com/tech/cvtcht.htm

Here's one.

http://www.woodworkerswholesale.com/6mm ... x01308.htm

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Thank You and Best To All

...but you'll need a 6mm collet for that particular one.

6mm ones with 1/4" shaft are available tho', just got to find them. I prefer doing three cuts. One to get the bulk out and then two more to clean up the front and back sides. You need a precision router/jig to do it though, so that you finish where you want. But 3/16" bits are easy to get...

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

Could you just make shaving with your plane and glue it in the slot?

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 2

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Under Compensated Nut!

Thanks a lot for the replies guys!

Put a coat of CA on both sides of a loose saddle.
Apply excelerator.
then fit it carefully again.
After sanding the ca down.

Measure with dial calipers the width of the saddle
blanks if you buy them.
They usually are not all the same measurement.

Mike

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Mike Collins