the nut

The_Blues · #1 07-23-2021, 05:02 PM

I just got a bone nut in and was wondering if super glue will hold it in place, or what is the best glue? The old plastic nut was glued in. I gave a light tap with a wooden dowel and small ball peen to break it loose, very little wood came with it when it came off.

Glen H · #2 07-23-2021, 05:20 PM

Just a very small dab of titebond is sufficient. I prefer to apply it to the end edge of the fingerboard rather than on the bottom of the nut.

The_Blues · #3 07-23-2021, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen H

Just a very small dab of titebond is sufficient. I prefer to apply it to the end edge of the fingerboard rather than on the bottom of the nut.

I tuned the strings and the nut moved toward the head quite a bit.. so I think I need to glue the bottom.

mirwa · #4 07-23-2021, 07:45 PM

I drop two small amounts of ca on the nut shelf, put the nut on and tune the d and g string first to let the glue set, then tune the rest

Steve

phavriluk · #5 07-23-2021, 09:34 PM

I think a nut should NOT be able to rotate in its slot. Short a picture, I'm suggesting that OP do whatever is required to contain the nut. That dab of glue is used to keep the nut from falling out, all the geometry is otherwise built in.

nikpearson · #6 07-24-2021, 03:13 AM

It is preferable to glue the front of the edge to the end of the fingerboard with a couple of drops of Titebond or similar. It makes future nut removal much easier and prevents damage to the nut slot.

If the nut is moving when tuning I think more work is needed.

hubcapsc · #7 07-24-2021, 06:08 AM

I had to get a new nut on my Kopp AJ... the luthier just laughed
about how well the old one was over-glued in... "these guys",
he said, with a smile on his face...

-Mike

The_Blues · #8 07-24-2021, 06:32 AM

little dot dabs for each string of gel super glue, holding fine.

koolimy · #9 07-27-2021, 10:31 AM

I use 2 tiny dabs of titebond to glue the nut in. I found that it comes off really easily too. I once inadvertently hit it with my aluminum level while trying to level the frets, and it just popped right off. I put the glue on the bottom but gluing to the fretboard may be better, as you will have to get the glue off somehow when you reglue the nut.

Alan Carruth · #10 07-27-2021, 01:56 PM

If the nut goes down into a slot I was taught to make the nut very slightly wider at one end than the other, so that it wedges in. That holds it in place without the need of glue. Violin and lute nuts sit on top of the neck, and are glued to the end of the fingerboard with a drop or so of glue. A sharp tap gets them loose.

canyongargon · #11 07-30-2021, 08:24 AM

To echo others: the least amount of glue the better. The tiniest drop of superglue or titebond should get you there.

On my personal guitars I tend to use, believe it or not, regular old Elmer's School Glue and even that works fine. You barely need any glue at all assuming the nut is a good fit to begin with.