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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:47 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I ordered some gauged nut slot files from Stew Mac and the 0.010" file is bent in a long arc. 0.010" is awfully thin and would be easily bent in packing or shipping. I would guess that in use, this bend would not really make much difference since it will follow the micro saw kerf that is made first. At this thickness it is easily flexed and can be made "straight" but the bend is permanently imparted to the file in a relaxed state.

I know Stew Mac's customer service is excellent and they would replace it without question but I hate to have them pay for shipping a replacement if it is not really needed. I guess my question is, will this bend be enough of a problem in use to warrant bothering to replace it?

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:20 pm 
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Don't know if this will help, but I CA'd 3/4mm (IIRC) stiff wood (ABW) up each side of my 3 (set of 10) thinnest nut files to stiffen them.
I find it easier to hold them too.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.



These users thanked the author Colin North for the post (total 2): Bryan Bear (Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:56 pm) • J De Rocher (Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:42 pm)
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:39 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Try it out on scrap to see if it's a problem. If it is, send it back, if it is not, it is not.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:58 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Colin, thanks for that idea. I'm going to do that for my other thin ones as well. I bet I will love it.

Ed, it seems to cut fine but with a round bottom cut so small I can't really see if there is an issue with the results. I guess I was asking if in actual practice if I was asking for nut trouble (binding or buzzing. . .). I think Colin's suggestion will take care of me.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 3:08 pm 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Hey Bryan. Do you mean that the business edge, the cutting edges are not straight and have a curve to them or that the file is bent a bit sideways when looking down at it and holding it in the working position?

If the cutting surface has a bend in it return it, that's a non-starter and will cut slots with a hump in them or on the other side a dip. If it's bent sideways and won't bend back and stay back I would return it too. You should not need to start nut slots with a saw. In fact I often start them with my .013" because the .010 is so very flexible and wimpy that it's not as precise as a rigid file.

PS: I rarely use a .010 and mine remains like new. The .013 seems to do most of my needs as well as our customer's needs too.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 3:18 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Yes Hesh, it is bent sideways (not the cutting surface). I probably will not use this very often either, I got it for mandolin nuts and saddles. I've made exactly 1 mandolin in my life, it needs a little touch up on. Now that I have this file, I better start making more :)

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.



These users thanked the author Bryan Bear for the post: Hesh (Tue Dec 01, 2015 6:12 am)
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 4:14 pm 
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Usually what I do in cases like this is ask for a discount. Sounds like it will most likely work just fine with the stiffening strips.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 8:04 pm 
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My 0.010" Stew Mac file also curves in its relaxed state, but it is so flexible that it does not seem to affect the function.

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John



These users thanked the author John Arnold for the post: Bryan Bear (Tue Dec 01, 2015 11:04 am)
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 11:50 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Thanks John.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 3:07 pm 
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I made a couple of holders for my two thinnest files last night. Image
Image

I used 1/64" veneer for the spacers, and thinned some for the .011" file, and sandwiched them between some scraps.

Alex


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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These users thanked the author Alex Kleon for the post: Bryan Bear (Tue Dec 01, 2015 3:11 pm)
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