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Has anyone any experience with ou-chikyu nut and fret files, or dealt with Japarts? http://www.japarts.ca/Uo-Chikyu/Uo-Chik ... -Files.asp Thanks for any help with this!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Those are the files I've been using and am happy with although I have little to compare to. Japarts is excellent to purchase from. You deal with a person from North Vancouver and they ship from Japan. As a Canadian I get my Gotoh 510's from them at a better price than SM.


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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

Thanks, Doug. Nothing against SM and lmi, but I'd rather source as many of my needs in Canada, and avoid high shipping and brokerage fees.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

...and crappy exchange rate.


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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

I just bought a set for my son from these guys for Xmas.
I had them in 4 days - these are items they stock locally in Van.
The cool thing about this supplier is they bundle exactly the nut files needed for popular string gauge sets.
We use standard light strings for electric - but try and find a .026" file? Not at SM...or LMI for that matter.
These guys have one bundled right in with their electric light set.

I bought this set through amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-T25458-Nu ... +nut+files
The amazon ad says grizzle but they are the ou-chikyu files.
They seem almost exactly the same as the ones stew mac sells.

I don't know if amazon has the same stuff available in Canada.

Oh yes, and the files themselves are excellent.
Over on the MLP forum a member did a test with these files, the double edge tapered files, notched feeler gauges, and welding tip cleaners.
He has access to super closeup photography.
The gauged nut files like these created the best channel, with nice rounded bottoms, vs the rest which were quite ragged in comparison...

They also offered a tip for using the .010" ga files (of which I have broken many) which is to hold the file between a couple strips of 3" binding when using. Brilliant!

Gauged files, good ones... are the way to go and I like either Grobet or the Stew-Mac ones. Stew-Mac changed suppliers about 5 years back and sent us prototypes from the new producer and we liked them a great deal. They are pretty sharp compared to the older SM offerings and cut a very nice slot.

If you need a larger slot than the file you have produces scrape the slot sides on the way down into the slot which will ever so slightly enlarge the slot and is a great way to eliminate that annoying "think" that we might hear when tuning and the string binds. Scraping the slot sides a tad also eliminates any tendency for the file to bind.

Lots of electrics these days and more specifically some of the nice stuff from S. Korea such as PRS SE's have a nut material that is a bit elastic and will part for the file and then close back up a tad after filing. This material also tends to be slippery and the files don't cut well until they do.... and then sometimes a bit too much.... Careful Will Robinson.... when using nut files on these beasts...

Robbie if you get a chance please would you post a link to the MLP forum post comparing files. I have a feeling I know who did the testing....

I switched to JaParts and never went back!

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"I've been had again"
Tim Benware
Creedmoor, NC