Official Luthiers Forum!

Filippo,

Compared to metal, bone is relatively soft so the cheapies work fine. As for cleaning up the entry exit, flossing with the appropriate wound guitar string seems to work pretty well.

Cheers

Kim

Are quality tools worth having? You probably know the answer to that.

Good Swiss needle files are available at discounted prices on Ebay.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I don't use needle files for nut making so they are not absolutely required. My nuts are shaped with small, but larger than neddle files from Stew-Mac - this is the rough shaping. Next they are sanded with various grits to final size - a small surface plate with sandpaper taped on it works great for this.

For the string slots I start with a razor saw to score the desired string location and then go at it with nut files. For the high E I start with the proper nut file and for the larger strings I start with a smaller nut file to get the cut going and then switch so the size nut file that the particular string will need.

But no needle files in my process at all.

Ditto what Hesh said, and I use needle files to shape a smooth transition from the nut to the tuning machine.

Chuck

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Jewelry making suppliers.

http://www.contenti.com/products/files.html

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

I got a set of new old stock (1960s) Simmons files on Ebay for less than $10. The difference in quality between these and the cheapos is huge. I use them mainly for filing inlays due to my less than stellar cutting abilities and for some nut work although I don't sue them for slotting as I've got nut files for that.

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Grobet and Honauer that I know of. baerri6122 is an Ebay dealer I have bought from. He was reliable. You will need to figure out the shapes and cuts. I think there are a few sites that picture the different shapes. the higher numbers are the finer cuts. For most purposes I don't need finer than a 0 cut and find that is the most useful for wood. For bone #1 is as fine as you need, if you will be smoothing with sandpaper. The finer cuts are mainly for jewelry.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Using needles files on anything other than metal, go with some really nice quality ones.... but anyone who's into plane making will tell you... if your working metal with needle files - 10 packs of cheapies will be better than 1 or 2 nice sets of needle files..
I find cheap needle files on sale at local hardware store from time to time and stock up on them... 5 - 10 packs or more whatever I can afford at the time,,,
Cheers
Charlie

Shapping I have severl small bastards I use to rough shape the nut and saddles. for slotting I use nut slotting files form Stewmac. polish the inside of the slots I use Mitchell abrasive cord in 200 grit at the appropreate diameter.

I really don't find neddle files all tha useful on nuts but a good flat fine diamond dust jewlers file is very usfull on saddles during intonating