Nut files

[eded]

Those torch cleaners are great...  for fine tuning and polishing slots.  My experience is that disappointment is the result if you are going to try to use them on a fresh blank.  One thing they are great at is making V shaped slots usable.

Ed

[Mr_LV19E]

Those torch cleaners are great...  for fine tuning and polishing slots.  My experience is that disappointment is the result if you are going to try to use them on a fresh blank.  One thing they are great at is making V shaped slots usable.

Ed

I use them for that same purpose and agree cutting slots on a blank would be like trying to strip the finish off your guitar with 2000 grit sandpaper.

[webberink]

At first I was only going to work on the b and e string slots but it ended up that I used the torch cleaners of the appropriate size to take down each string slot until the strings were flush with the first fret using the two fret gauge and method that Jim Holler described in this thread.  I made sure I had the proper angle too so the string was in contact with the edge of the nut facing the frets.  Slots cleaned up very nicely and the intonation is excellent.  I am really happy with this nut now.  I love this forum when it works like this to give a guy a hand.
Dave

[Zohn]

Those tip-cleaners are great for making the seating area perfectly round and at the same diameter as each string. I use my vernier calipers to measure the diameter of each string, and then measure and select the correct "file" to use.
Since doing it that way I found the actual diameter of each string isn't always exactly that measurement as quoted on the packaging... 

[Zohn]

I cut the slots to .070" over the height of the first fret. This is a good starting poing. For pure fingerstyl I go flush with the frets.
Jim Holler

Jim, shouldn't it be 0.007"? Since I work in millimeters, I converted and 0,07" amounts to 1.78mm. According to the Larrivee catalogue the total fret height is 0.0394" (1mm) above the fretboard.
That just sounds like a large value for that step in your gauge.

[TrinityGuitars]

Jim, shouldn't it be 0.007"? Since I work in millimeters, I converted and 0,07" amounts to 1.78mm. According to the Larrivee catalogue the total fret height is 0.0394" (1mm) above the fretboard.
That just sounds like a large value for that step in your gauge.

    Yes sorry about that, .0007"

[jeremy3220]

Why base how deep you cut the slot off the open string height over the first fret? The string will back buzz when fretted on the 3rd before it will buzz open. I always lower the slot till there is just a tiny amount of clearance over the first fret when the string is fretted on the third. To me this seems to be the determining factor in string height, so my question is what is the reasoning behind the other method?

[Zohn]

Jeremy, I guess the combination of your method and Jim's is the sum total to getting it right every time.
Once one knows the correct height over the first when fretting at the third fret, what could be easier than filing and measuring with Jim's gauge?
Thanx to both you guys for valuable info.