Members ido1957 Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 What are you using to lubricate your guitar nut? I've been using cork grease for years. It's like a Lypsil tube so it's small handy and keeps my strings from binding.I've seen a lot of comments about shaving pencil lead and Vaseline. That works well form what I've heard. What a bout filing your nut. Are you filing the sides to widen rhe slot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members humbuckerstrat Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 Big Bends Nut Sauce. I had to file a nut slot in one of my guitars where the low E was catching and always getting out of tune. I used an .046"mm nut file from Stew-Mac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ido1957 Posted September 1, 2014 Author Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 I have read a lot of people buy their tools from Stew Mac - sounds like a good place to check out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 I use chap stick or somethig simalar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 No grease or anything else. Each guitar has nut slots carefully filed for the gauge strings that it uses - I tend to file them one or two thousands over the string size (or just the next size file). Don't make the slot too deep - the wound strings should stand slightly proud of the top (if the slots are too deep take a little off the top). There are cheaper alternatives but a good set of gauged nut files makes the job a snap. I also roll the back side of the slot where the string exits towards the tuner and polish it on a buffing wheel with jewlers rouge. StewMac is a great source for tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badpenguin Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 My thoughts exactly Mr Freeman! in the past I used a #2 pencil. But once I got the nack of proper filing, never needed to touch the stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danhedonia Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 I used to be pretty anal but then had a lapse in QC and decided "eh, I'll just use pencil lead." Works well if used judiciously, and the dirtbagginess suits my punk side. For filing, I did worse: I use strings to sort of whittle/shave the nut grooves. It's slow, but works well for me. The key is to not overdo it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members humbuckerstrat Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 I have read a lot of people buy their tools from Stew Mac - sounds like a good place to check out. They have terrific tools for guitar maintenance and repair, you should ask for a catalog. They send me one regularly (like Muscians Friend does). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knotty Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 My nuts are au natural. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 I have read a lot of people buy their tools from Stew Mac - sounds like a good place to check out. It's a good place but it's also an expensive place. Check on eBay. For lubricant, when needed--which is rare--I use powdered graphite. A harder nut works wonders; binding is caused by the winding of the string digging into the surface of the nut. Try TUSQ, bone, brass, etc. I solved the problem of the G string binding on my "good" acoustic by accident by changing strings from phosphor bronze to 80/20. I have no clue how or why it works but I recommend changing strings to anyone who has the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 Nothing, I set my guitars up like a champion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chordite Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 Nothing, strings stick because of mechanical shape not need for lube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BeanoBoy Posted September 1, 2014 Members Share Posted September 1, 2014 I use Big Bends Nut Sauce although the effect is SUBTLE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted September 2, 2014 Members Share Posted September 2, 2014 Nothing' date=' strings stick because of mechanical shape not need for lube.[/quote'] Strings stick because of friction unless they're flatwounds. Lubricant reduces friction. Granted, it's better to remove the cause of friction (i.e., a nut that's too soft or cut improperly) but sometimes you can't do that and lubricant is a necessary evil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted September 2, 2014 Members Share Posted September 2, 2014 Chapstick smells nice, easy to carry and a tube last a very long time. A dab on my saddles at every string change also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted September 2, 2014 Members Share Posted September 2, 2014 Stewmac Guitar Grease, sparingly. Plus I periodically polish the slots with slightly wet 1000 grit sandpaper folded over to match the slot size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sammyreynolds01 Posted September 2, 2014 Members Share Posted September 2, 2014 Big bends nut sauce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted September 2, 2014 Members Share Posted September 2, 2014 It helps to use a little graphite grease especially when you have a fender type floating whammy bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted September 2, 2014 Members Share Posted September 2, 2014 Pencil lead. I just throw a couple of HB pencils in my guitar cases and gig bags. It's easy to apply from the tip of the pencil and I sometimes do it mid set if I notice my guitar going out of tune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emory Posted September 3, 2014 Members Share Posted September 3, 2014 I went to auto parts store and got some powdered graphite. Far cheaper than same stuff from guitar retailer. Graphite is graphite, or shall we get into #4 vs #2 pencils? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted September 3, 2014 Moderators Share Posted September 3, 2014 A well cut nut means no requirement for lubricant if any kind, on either static tails or vibratos, solve the issue not the symptom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted September 3, 2014 Members Share Posted September 3, 2014 A well cut nut means no requirement for lubricant if any kind' date=' on either static tails or vibratos, solve the issue not the symptom[/quote'] I use a small amount of lube only as a precaution, not because of any particular issue. So I guess you could call it a suprstition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted September 3, 2014 Members Share Posted September 3, 2014 A well cut nut means no requirement for lubricant if any kind . . . Not quite. If the nut is made of a material that's too soft, there's still the possibility of the string windings digging into it. You can solve the problem with lubricant, different strings, or a harder nut, but simply cutting the slots properly won't necessarily eliminate the problem by itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willyguitar Posted September 3, 2014 Members Share Posted September 3, 2014 That's a rather personal question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danhedonia Posted September 3, 2014 Members Share Posted September 3, 2014 SOrry for the typical grumping, but chemically "Big Bends Nut Sauce" and some silicon gels are indistinguishable. Except for a price difference of about 5,000%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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