Hey guys, I've been using bolts for nuts with no problems at all. If the string fits down in the thread and the thread is cut smoothly there should be no problem. I only clean mine up with steel wool before installing. It looks like your are brass in the picture, soft brass should be fine. I have never cut slots into the thread, just used the tread as is, 1/4 20 works for me.
Jim burt > Ron "Oily" SpragueMarch 14, 2012 at 7:38am
Thank Oily...I did check out the site...have place a order...I have been Snipe hunting ...mosty as a young kid...I remember my 1st Snipe hunt...sitting out in the dark wood with a big bag and little stick....lol
Sounds to me like you figured out the problem. Get your grooves a bit more U-shaped. The strings should just fit in them, not be completely buried. As Clock sez, metal on metal can easily cut your strings. You really need to polish the grooves, too. Finally, lubricating them with the old trick of grinding some pencil graphite into the grooves will help the strings slip instead of binding as you tune up.
Alternatively, you could move up to bone, Delrin or even plastic nuts. And maybe invest in a tube of Big Bends Nut Sauce.
This is why an unaltered bolt works. The groove is smooth at the bottom, has a round profile so the string has a good jump off point (no buzz) and the v shape doesn't crowd the string. Sure its not perfect, but it works as well as a cigar box for a guitar does.
Jim burt > Ron "Oily" SpragueMarch 13, 2012 at 8:23pm
Thank...I believe it in the nut....The more I look @ it...It not smooth...but a jarred edge....Big Bends Nut Sauce...that sound like something you putt on porkskin lol....But I will try it....:)
Replies
Hey guys, I've been using bolts for nuts with no problems at all. If the string fits down in the thread and the thread is cut smoothly there should be no problem. I only clean mine up with steel wool before installing. It looks like your are brass in the picture, soft brass should be fine. I have never cut slots into the thread, just used the tread as is, 1/4 20 works for me.
B cautius Jim ,, Oily will have u on a "snipe" hunt fore long !!??
http://www.bigbends.com/
Snipe hunting, too, is a legitimate sport:
http://www.thesnipehunter.com/
Which doesn't mean Rich is incorrect...>:-E
Thank Oily...I did check out the site...have place a order...I have been Snipe hunting ...mosty as a young kid...I remember my 1st Snipe hunt...sitting out in the dark wood with a big bag and little stick....lol
I use a metal bolt...I file slot in it to hold the string...could it be the slot be more V than U shape...also to deep
Sounds to me like you figured out the problem. Get your grooves a bit more U-shaped. The strings should just fit in them, not be completely buried. As Clock sez, metal on metal can easily cut your strings. You really need to polish the grooves, too. Finally, lubricating them with the old trick of grinding some pencil graphite into the grooves will help the strings slip instead of binding as you tune up.
Alternatively, you could move up to bone, Delrin or even plastic nuts. And maybe invest in a tube of Big Bends Nut Sauce.
This is why an unaltered bolt works. The groove is smooth at the bottom, has a round profile so the string has a good jump off point (no buzz) and the v shape doesn't crowd the string. Sure its not perfect, but it works as well as a cigar box for a guitar does.
Thank...I believe it in the nut....The more I look @ it...It not smooth...but a jarred edge....Big Bends Nut Sauce...that sound like something you putt on porkskin lol....But I will try it....:)
It would help in knowing if your strings tend to break in the same general area or not.