Best tool for shaping nut top (in situ) ?

[donnyb]

Hello and thankyou for taking time to read this.

In the final adjustments to string clearances at the nut, I usually adjust the string clearances over the 1st fret by a capo on the third fret by filing the slot heights.

The I dress the top of the nut to expose the wound strings by half their diameter but not the very thin unwound strings. I just make sure these are not pinching in their slots.

I usually use a part of the radius of a radius block to do the top shaping.

As this latter adjustment takes a while to do, repeated strings on/strings off, what tool (and grit if applicable) have you found that works best and quickest to dress the top without scarring the bone too much before final polishing ?

[Bruce Sexauer]

I use a course double cut file followed by a fine single cut file followed by 220 and then 320 sandpaper and then my pedestal buffer. While it is possible to do this w/o removing the nut, why not remove the nut? The chance of headstock damage is greatly reduced if the tools are not near it.

[donnyb]

Thanks Bruce for the files tip. I have those cuts. And you're right of course about removing the nut first.

[bnjp]

We have been finishing them up (after shaping and sanding) with a four-sided nail buffer. Weird idea but it works. The ones we have are called Tropical shine 4-way nail buffer.

[donnyb]

Haha Bryan.So do I.
And really good after fret leveling a full fretboard too !

[redir]

Make sure to mask off the area. I use a flat stick with sandpaper stuck to it to shape it out then various grades of paper up to 400.