polishing/smoothing nut slots...how?

[Dodgeball]

Ok basketballers,

I've seen a few comments made on here from time to time about smoothing and lubing the nut slots on trem equipped axes so as to prevent binding at the nut throwing the tuning off.

How do I go about doing this? I'm getting a "ping" sound on my Luke and the G and B strings are getting thrown out of tune when i use the trem bar.

I'm guessing it's a job for some 1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper but I just wanna double check. Also am I polishing the sides or the bottom of the slot or what?

I will be VERY careful!

Many thanks guys

 

[pauldogx]

1st question---did you change string gauges? if you went from 9's to 10's that could cause some binding-----if the guit is new wank the bar for awhile---the nut may just need some playin in. Id try that before foolin with the nut----seems to me EBMM is pretty on top of it settin up their instruments. I only file or alter nuts as a last resort. I've cut probably 10-15 nuts from blanks myself over the years and I can say from experience its easier to screw up a nut than fix it.!!!!!!!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Ok basketballers,

I've seen a few comments made on here from time to time about smoothing and lubing the nut slots on trem equipped axes so as to prevent binding at the nut throwing the tuning off.

How do I go about doing this? I'm getting a "ping" sound on my Luke and the G and B strings are getting thrown out of tune when i use the trem bar.

I'm guessing it's a job for some 1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper but I just wanna double check. Also am I polishing the sides or the bottom of the slot or what?

I will be VERY careful!

Many thanks guys

Try some graphite - use a soft leaded pencil and a sharp blade and "shave" some powder off into the slots.
I'm sure there are some proprietory "unguents" that cost an arm and a leg that do the same job.
Spud

 

[pauldogx]

addendum----as far as lube you can try pencil graphite or some guys have said that new nut sauce stuff works well although I havent tried it.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I can say from experience its easier to screw up a nut than fix it.!!!!!!!

+1

 

[Dodgeball]

Cheers for the fast responses guys.

Heres some more info...

I've not changed string brands or guage since getting it new.
It's fairly new (October) so maybe does need some breaking in time.
I've tried every thing from big bends to graphite to chapstick and it doesn't solve the problem.

Will it really help to just play the heck out of it for a few weeks?? I've heard this mentioned before but not sure if it's true.

Thanks again for the prompt responses.

C

 

[Spudmurphy]

I agree with Pauldoqx insofar as you can cause a lot of grief to the sound of your guitar if you knacker the Knut!
Albert Lee is a self professed nut nibbler and he always has a couple of Rizlas tucked into the nut where he's overfiled them.
I'd play the hell out of it for a while.
I'm sure Jongitarz will step in and give his 2 cents worth.

 

[Adwex]

I use Nut Sauce, you can find it here. http://www.guitaristonly.com/

You gotta put some lubrication on your nuts so your G-string doesn't get stuck in your slot.






alright, it's not that funny.

 

[tommyindelaware]

i prefer 1500 grit these days......
i cut a piece 1"x3".....fold it in half longways....and use it like a file....but use a flossing type motion. it dosn't take much. u wanna smooth....not cut. i'm sure the slots are already big enough.....
the nut sauce is great too !!!!!
u can find 1500 grit at most automotive stores in the paint dept.
if it's pinging.....they need smooting & lubeing.......

Ok basketballers,

I've seen a few comments made on here from time to time about smoothing and lubing the nut slots on trem equipped axes so as to prevent binding at the nut throwing the tuning off.

How do I go about doing this? I'm getting a "ping" sound on my Luke and the G and B strings are getting thrown out of tune when i use the trem bar.

I'm guessing it's a job for some 1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper but I just wanna double check. Also am I polishing the sides or the bottom of the slot or what?

I will be VERY careful!

Many thanks guys

 

[OrangeChannel]

cheap nut sauce alternative:

graphite powder (purchased by the tube @ your local hardware store)
vaseline

mix...apply with a very fine brush or a toothpick. It'll cost you about $5 tops whereas nutsauce = $14ish a tube...and to boot it's essentially the same thing. graphite and petroleum jelly...

Added bonus...Permatex....use that to lube the knife edges on your trem...you shant have an issue if you follow these simple deals...

 

[Dodgeball]

i prefer 1500 grit these days......
i cut a piece 1"x3".....fold it in half longways....and use it like a file....but use a flossing type motion. it dosn't take much. u wanna smooth....not cut. i'm sure the slots are already big enough.....
the nut sauce is great too !!!!!
u can find 1500 grit at most automotive stores in the paint dept.
if it's pinging.....they need smooting & lubeing.......

Thanks Tommy, this is the info I was looking for.

Thanks to everyone else too. I've already been using the nut sauce (big bends) as well as graphite, chapstick and such for a while but it's not enough to solve the problem this time.

I'll trash the heck out of it for a couple of weeks and see what happens, then if it hasn't sorted itself I'll practice the smoothing on an old strat that has the same problems (but worse) so I know what I'm doing when I get to the Luke.

Thanks again all.

C

 

[peat]

I agree with Pauldoqx insofar as you can cause a lot of grief to the sound of your guitar if you knacker the Knut!
Albert Lee is a self professed nut nibbler and he always has a couple of Rizlas tucked into the nut where he's overfiled them.
I'd play the hell out of it for a while.
I'm sure Jongitarz will step in and give his 2 cents worth.

what is a rizla?

 

[Dodgeball]

what is a rizla?

Peat,

in the UK rizla is AFAIK the only manufacturer of roll-your-own cigarette papers.