Quick Tip: Accurate, DIY Nut Slot Files for $10

You can make almost all of the guitar nut files you ever need in minutes, for peanuts.

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be good,
Tim

[phil.pinsky]

Great tip! Is there anywhere I can go to listen to more maker tips on a weekly basis?!

[ricos]

Great tip. I was able to get hold of a single feeler gauge and I used the corner of a concrete wall to sharpen saw teeth into it. From there, I was able to saw through the bars on my cell and escape from prison. To this day, I still contend that I didn't murder those backpackers that were found in my bedroom, so I think that in some way justice was served by this method you're now sharing with the world Tim. Thanks.

[gargarfinks]

Sweet, you literally just uploaded a solution to the problem I was pondering. Thanks for the tip!

[TheChipMcDonald]

I've been telling my guitar lesson students to do this for... decades. The Harbor Freight Tools luthier tool, I think I babbled about this on Harmony Central a long time ago, the Reaper board more recently. But here's a tip: you don't even need to go to that much trouble! If you scuff the gauges (on both sides of the "blade edge side") a few times on a sidewalk, tilted slightly, they'll actually cut quite well without having to slice teeth into them. You can also use scuffed-up strings to profile the bottom of the slot.

[wweiss]

I bought an extra feeler gauge just for that purpose. thanks Tim.

[rationalemusic]

It might be a good idea to run a light file along the sides of the gauge when done to de-burr anything left over from cutting the teeth.

[tolvajakos]

So many people that mod their own guitars are looking for this solution in forums because a set of proper nut files cost more than the guitar they would be uograding (and cheap chinese sets are not only not nutfiles, they are also useless). Whenever I have the time, I will post your video whenever somebody asks about these again.

[JuanJaim]

Never thought of this! I've been sticking bits of sandpaper to my feeler gauges to make my own nut files, but now I'm considering getting another set and turn it into a file set!

[PragmaticDany]

Thank you, Tim. I really needed this, I admire you as such a creative Luthier. I only work on my two guitars for my bedroom playing so I don’t want to spend too much on tools, this is going to help!

[fartwrangler]

This is a great idea! A few years ago I finally bit the bullet and bought a set of Japanese nut-slotting files for $200 (good files, and still cheaper than the $350 StewMac charges for their set). Even so, I work on a lot of exotic instruments, and it seems like I'm often looking for an "in-between" size that I don't have. This is the perfect, economical solution to having pretty much any size you need.

You, sir, are destined for greatness! 😀

[roryadam]

I watch DIY crap almost everyday, and this is by far the most useful DIY option for nut files Ive ever seen, you sir just saved me 10 bucks (i have a feeler gauge set already) and probaly a bad experience because i was just about to buy cheap chinese nut slot files and figured Id look for another alternative because I havent in awhile. Surprising to me that I havnt seen this video before because Ive searched this many times.

[patthesoundguy]

I had been using torch tip cleaners and they had been working well, but this is a whole other thing 😎 I always have a an extra set or two of feeler gauges around. I'm going to use the diamond disk on the Dremel and make a set of those asap. Thanks for a great tip!

[Riverdeepnwide]

Check out welding tip cleaners, inexpensive at hardware stores and Amazon etc. Great for adjusting existing slots (they’re round) though less stable than the wider shim.
When filing shims alternate left/right angle orientation of the file, it helps keep the sawing straight and on target. Take a close look at production saw blades to see the various tooth set ups.

[EclipseAtDusk]

Incredibly clever, and a fantastic example of “Need a tool? Make a tool.”

I’m gonna have to hold onto that one

[Drokkstar_]

This is genius. You just saved me £120 (for a set of files that didn't even match my strings!). Works a treat, thankyou!

[carlkerkman]

Thanks so much for this tip - I've worked on my guitars for years, but have always shied away from messing with the nut due to the high price of the tools!

[aniquinstark]

Wow, this is a fantastic idea. Very simple way to have a self-contained set of nut files of specific widths

[samsonjpedroza]

BEST DIY TIP I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME...THANKS !!!

[bourkey]

I love things like this. So cheap, simple and easy. And a great idea!

[TrulyHomeGrownNJ]

Love this & am so thankful to have found it! I have been stressing about the thought of paying so much for nut files, just to use a few times. And I'd have to get a bunch to accomodate a classical guitar as well as a couple of acoustics, an electric, a bass, and a lap steel, all using vastly different string gauges... But I have a few sets of old feeler gauges laying around in tool boxes that I don't even use anymore, so this = free files for me. Many thanks!