Two tools from one

[woodrat]

Recently I posted about a set of nut files that I bought from Ebay in the States. The thread is called Proper Job Nut Files. Anyway I dont use the thickest one at 0.058thou or about 1.5 mm or a 1/16th of an inch so I thought that I would cut it down to make a file for the slots in the bridge to accommodate the winded ends of the largest two strings. StewMac have just brought out a set of such files but my budget is blown with them from my last order so I thought that would make one with the 0.058 thou nut file. ...

The nut files are high carbon steel feeler gauge stock so I though that I would use the off cut to make a little chisel that will have many uses I am sure. One I can think of is making any small adjustments to the bottom of saddle slots...I used the off cut as I said and a bit of ebony scrap that I shaped in a bit of a Krenovian shape also leaving the sanding marks on the edges where I had shaped it with a flap wheel like he used to do with his wooden planes etc. I attached the blade in a slot with some brass wire rope whipping around the ebony.

John

[charangohabsburg]

Great idea, and the two tools look really good!

How did you cut the material? With a Dremel cutoff wheel?

[woodrat]

G'day Markus....I used a 1mm thick cut off wheel in a 100mm angle grinder free hand and then cleaned it up with a flap wheel....I am not a machinist but a pragmatic woodworker cum reluctant metalworker...I use what is near at hand to get the job done asap so I can get back to woodwork,... read lutherie:)

Thanks

John

[charangohabsburg]

Thanks John. A 100mm angle grinder sounds like a handy thing for lutherie related metalworking, not so much underpowered like the dremels and proxxons.
I find it always a hassle to cut metal stuff. I also prefer (tone)wood.

[woodrat]

Thanks John. A 100mm angle grinder sounds like a handy thing for lutherie related metalworking, not so much underpowered like the dremels and proxxons.
I find it always a hassle to cut metal stuff. I also prefer (tone)wood.

Yes Markus...the Ol' 4 inch angle grinder is a useful piece of kit...Sometimes the Dremels just have not got the grunt you need and there's nothing else but to bring out some artillery:)

John

[charangohabsburg]

...Sometimes the Dremels just have not got the grunt you need and there's nothing else but to bring out some artillery:)

Right!

[Kim]

Anyway I dont use the thickest one at 0.058thou or about 1.5 mm or a 1/16th of an inch so I thought that I would cut it down to make a file for the slots in the bridge to accommodate the winded ends of the largest two strings.

John

Fascinatingly frugal John, thanks for sharing..

I'm off to find my unused .058"

Cheers

Kim