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I may be the only one who hasn't thought of this, but I've never seen anything about it on here. I made a nut today and roughed it to shape with the disc sander like I always do, but then to shape the top to the FB radius I used my I-beam sander with the 16" radius and just moved the nut back and forth and got a perfect radius on it in no time, and you can tilt it to get the slope, too.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

I do the same for nut AND saddle and then make small adjustments to suit taste.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I file the top of the nut so about half the string's diameter are below (and the other half is over ) the top of the nut after the strings are at their corretct height. This means the top of the nut will not exacly match the curvature of the fingerboard, and it will be higher on the bass side. I don't see how I using a radius block can easily sand this geometry, especially not before the string slots are cut.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Ron what do you mean by an "I-beam" sander? Is this a radiused block radiused to 16'? If so I understand and this is a great idea!!! Just stick self stick paper on the block and sand away.

Very cool idea and I will be making a nut with your idea in the next week. Thanks! [/QUOTE]


Yup, the radius sanding block. I used the big aluminum one from StewMac (they called it I beam). I just clamped it in my vice upside down and sanded away. I mark my curve on the nut using the half pencil trick and sanded to the line. Perfect radius. I don't do any shaping after the nut is installed, just file the string slots.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Good idea I'll be giving it a try shortly. Thanks.

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

[quote]I don't see how I using a radius block can easily sand this geometry, especially not before the string slots are cut.[/quote]

Arnt:
     Offset the centerline of the nut from the centerline of the I-Beam. You might have to do some trig but it would make it pretty clean! Do you need a pic?

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Billy T: If you're offering a tutorial, yes please, that would be awesome for the slower types of us.

Bill, slower type...

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.