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Nut Replacement, What Glue to use?


Coolie No.1

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Ok, serious:lol:

 

First off, what glue to use while putting back the new nut?

 

I see the present nut is fixed and seems to be solid (I can see it is glued very well), how best to take it out?

 

BTW, I have decided to use a pre cut Tusq nut from graphtec, unless you can tell me another source.

Only thing I would have to do is sand the thickness.

 

Thanks

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White glue is all it takes. Anything more will make future replacement unnecessarily difficult.

 

If it is a strat/tele type nut bedded in a slot you might want to cut it lengthwise and pinch the halves togeter with pliars. I have had the end of the board crack off with the "tap" technique...won't chance that again.

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Use a few drops of Elmer's or wood glue. Nothing "super" or "crazy"

 

As far as nut removal it depends. General process -

 

score gaps with a razor blade, heat with a blow dryer, coax (gently wedge, pry, pull, tap), repeat as necessary

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String pressure does most of the nut-holding on a guitar - it hardly has to be epoxied in place. Personally, I like wood glue, but some prefer something with less stick for easier removal in the future. If you shim the nut, I'd recommend real maple; some people use business cards, but I've always felt they were too soft, though it doesn't make much difference.

 

As far as removing your old nut, take a razor blade and score around the edges of the nut to *hopefully* break the finish seal. Then jab a knife in the side of the nut and pry carefully but firmly. Be sure to clean out the slot before you replace the nut.

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String pressure does most of the nut-holding on a guitar - it hardly has to be epoxied in place. Personally, I like wood glue, but some prefer something with less stick for easier removal in the future. If you shim the nut, I'd recommend real maple; some people use business cards, but I've always felt they were too soft, though it doesn't make much difference.

 

 

Exactly right. The purpose of the glue is just to hold the nut on when the strings are off pretty much. I put a couple small drops of wood glue on, and that's plenty.

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Three drops of Titebond wood glue.

 

 

That is a tad bit overkill. Depends on the size of the drop though. One drop is enough either way.

 

I use 1 drop of viscous (20 or 30) Hot Stuff (Super Glue). Normally this is probably overkill if done wrong, but if you do it right, it makes for very easy removal with no cleanup of the nut slot.

 

I say the above with the very important disclaimer that if you do it wrong, that nut will be a bitch to get out. For an amateur, I suggest one drop of Elmers or wood glue. It leaves a bit messier residue should you need to take the nut off than my method, but at least you won't be welding it in there by accident.

 

As far as the reason why my method works, it's how I apply the glue and how long I wait till I actually install the nut after I put the glue on the nut. It guarantees a clean slot every time if you needed to pull the nut again. Adding a viscous drop and waiting for the glue to stiffen a bit will almost "plasticize" the glue preventing it from actually entering the grain of the nut slot, yet provides enough ooomph to hold it. However it comes out easily and cleanly. Elmers or wood glue is guaranteed to enter the grain. That is fine, but it will take some cleaning up usually.

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Just a touch of elmer's white glue. I've never had a problem removing them with just a tap of the nylon hammer. If you've got some hot hide glue warmed up, that's another good choice. I wouldn't have any problem with a drop of superglue, either.

 

The important thing is to score the finish if the nut was installed prior to finishing.

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Nothing wrong with superglue, it's what I've always used. Doesn't take much to hold a nut in, you just need something to keep it from falling off when you're changing strings. One or two drops of super glue will do it.

 

What is it with everybody on the forums having such strong opinions on everything these days? Virtually any glue will work, and if you don't overdo it future removal shouldn't be a problem with any of them. Sometimes people make it sound like if you use the wrong stuff your guitar will burst into flames or something. :cop:

 

One of the nice things about superglue is that it's brittle when dried, so while it holds strong it also breaks the bond easily with a little shock.

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Nothing wrong with superglue, it's what I've always used. Doesn't take much to hold a nut in, you just need something to keep it from falling off when you're changing strings. One or two drops of super glue will do it.


What is it with everybody on the forums having such strong opinions on everything these days? Virtually any glue will work, and if you don't overdo it future removal shouldn't be a problem with any of them. Sometimes people make it sound like if you use the wrong stuff your guitar will burst into flames or something.
:cop:

One of the nice things about superglue is that it's brittle when dried, so while it holds strong it also breaks the bond easily with a little shock.

 

Are you me?:thu:

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just how often do you guys change nuts on guitars? some of you make it sound like you replace the nut as general maintenance.

 

 

It's not a matter of replacing the nut on one guitar over and over, but those of us who make a habit of either fixing up multiple guitars of our own or working on other people's guitars have to deal with it.

 

I've fixed up over a dozen of my own guitars that I either still have or have since sold, I've built a guitar from scratch with two more on the way, and I've worked on guitars for at least a dozen other people.

 

THAT'S A LOTTA NUTS!!!

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Mind Riot I just read your Loudness Wars Link. Interesting. But to stay on topic, I've never replaced a nut, but I think I'm going to give it a shot with a tusq nut on my tele. You guys give good advice here and help make this forum a better place.
:wave:

 

The Loudness Wars are the single most destructive development in music technology of the last several decades. If the world ever figures it out en masse, people will be buying remasters of remasters to try to undo the damage.

 

If you want to get deeper into a potential solution, look up Bob Katz' K-system. But it is a bit much to wrap your head around, took me awhile to get it, it's a bit abstract. :freak:

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just how often do you guys change nuts on guitars? some of you make it sound like you replace the nut as general maintenance.

 

 

Every time I do a fret job or refinish. I've done a couple replacements on busted nuts, and some on "blown" nuts where people cut the grooves too low.

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Three drops of Titebond wood glue.


Edit: TINY drops.

 

 

This. Any wood glue or white glue (Elmer's) would work too. Make sure the drops are tiny. The strings will keep it from going anywhere, the glue is just to keep it on the right spot during string removal.

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