how many nut files and what size

Pukulele Pete

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• Nov 1, 2009

• #1

how many nut files do I need to make a nut for a soprano uke. I thought I saw somewhere that only two are needed but I don't know what sizes to get
they all seem to be off from the size strings I usually use ( M600 ). Can I use a .025 file for a .021 string ? Will it matter? Do I need four files? Please save me some money. Thanks

 

dave g

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• Nov 1, 2009

• #2

Pukulele Pete said:

Can I use a .025 file for a .021 string ?

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Absolutely. I get along fine with one nut file.

 

Timbuck

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• Nov 1, 2009

• #3

I use these, made from one 32 TPI hacksaw blade....I lu'v e'm

 

erich@muttcrew.net

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• Nov 1, 2009

• #4

Timbuck said:

I use these, made from one 32 TPI hacksaw blade...

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Sounds good. But how did you get the three exact widths out of one hacksaw blade?

 

DaveVisi

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• Nov 1, 2009

• #5

See the little scallops on the two thinner ones? That's where the saw blade was filed down to get those dimensions.

 

Timbuck

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• Nov 1, 2009

• #6

DaveVisi said:

See the little scallops on the two thinner ones? That's where the saw blade was filed down to get those dimensions.

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Nicely spotted Dave ...but i did it on my thickness sander with the aid of double sided adhesive tape.. a diamond type file and micrometer would work just as well..or rubbing it down on a diamond lap..or whatever?/...the Hacksaw blade was .036" to start with...so there's not a lot of blade to reduce.

 

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Pukulele Pete

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• Nov 2, 2009

• #7

I dont have a thickness sander. I thought I would buy a couple files from stewart macdonald. From what I've been reading so far I'm thinking all I need for files would be a .025 and a .036 for my strings which are .021,.032,.036,and.025.
Am I correct in my thinking? The bigger size file will be fine for a smaller size string? Well........?

 

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Doug

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• Nov 2, 2009

• #8

After seeing the "files" you made Timbuck, I went out and made a couple for myself. Then I slotted two nuts for ukes I'm building. I finished the bottom of the slots with the welding tip cleaners to make them round. It worked very well. Thanks.
Doug

 

Pete Howlett

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• Nov 2, 2009

• #9

Just so pete - I use 2 files .8mm and 1mm

 

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Pukulele Pete

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• Nov 2, 2009

• #10

Thank You Pete , thats just what I wanted to know.

 

Matt Clara

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• Nov 17, 2009

• #11

Timbuck said:

I use these, made from one 32 TPI hacksaw blade....I lu'v e'm

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice--I made two, one labled B and one labeled S. Sooooo much easier than using the torch cleaners alone--like chopping down trees with mallets, that is.