Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

[David Collins]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

What everyone gave up now that we pointed out how crazy it would be to grind down a Floyd nut???!

Lol

That's a joke, right?

Sanding, filing, or grinding down a Floyd nut is about as daunting a task as opening a can of tuna fish. It's not like we're cutting diamonds here - compared to shaping or sharpening a knife or chisel, cutting down a Floyd nut is like slicing butter.

Of course if you have to remove a lot of material then having a proper tool like a disc sander can make life a lot easier, but for small amounts a file, oil stone, or even good sandpaper on a flat block will work just fine.

Of course each case is different and needs to be treated as its own. If the shelf is not deep enough, then it should be cut down. Sometimes I do this with a chisel, sometimes a file, or both, or I'll set it up on my milling machine. If you wanted to use some type of router, you would need to make sure the neck was well secured to a base, with a platform and guides set up very square and precise - not a whole lot of room for error here. Lots of ways to do it though.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

That's a joke, right?

Sanding, filing, or grinding down a Floyd nut is about as daunting a task as opening a can of tuna fish. It's not like we're cutting diamonds here - compared to shaping or sharpening a knife or chisel, cutting down a Floyd nut is like slicing butter.

You have to understand, some of us have tool kits comprised of pencil erasers, heavily worn screwdrivers, spanners used as hammers, utility knives used as miniature pry bars, and socket sets with 90% of the pieces in the wrong spot.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

That's what I told her!

thanks - I needed a laugh today

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

I didn't even read the thread, so hopefully someone has already pointed this out.

You NEVER remove wood from the neck, you always grind down the nut. I usually lap the back if the nut anyway to make sure it is flat.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

I didn't even read the thread, so hopefully someone has already pointed this out.

You NEVER remove wood from the neck, you always grind down the nut. I usually lap the back if the nut anyway to make sure it is flat.

Yeah but here we have a fresh neck that might have the Floyd nut shelf way too high.

The neck manufacturer might think it's the (l)user's responsibility to do the fine work there, just like they do for a regular nut.

(one reason why I don't like Floyd, WTF happened to just filing down the offending slots)

 

[David Collins]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

I didn't even read the thread, so hopefully someone has already pointed this out.

You NEVER remove wood from the neck, you always grind down the nut. I usually lap the back if the nut anyway to make sure it is flat.

"Never" is a strong word. There's always going to be the possibility of individual circumstances which can make some approaches more suitable than others. I agree that the majority of the time it is best to remove material from the nut, but would also say that there are occasional situations where cutting the shelf lower on the neck itself may be the preferable option. Not typically, but sometimes.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

You have to understand, some of us have tool kits comprised of pencil erasers, heavily worn screwdrivers, spanners used as hammers, utility knives used as miniature pry bars, and socket sets with 90% of the pieces in the wrong spot.

Think of it as an opportunity to expand ones tool set.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

"Never" is a strong word. There's always going to be the possibility of individual circumstances which can make some approaches more suitable than others. I agree that the majority of the time it is best to remove material from the nut, but would also say that there are occasional situations where cutting the shelf lower on the neck itself may be the preferable option. Not typically, but sometimes.

Perhaps "never" is not the best choice of word... :scratchch

However, 9 out of 10 times the nut gets the work. I always say it is cheaper, and easier to replace a OFR nut than the neck.

I went back and read where this is a new Musikraft neck. I suppose they could have screwed one up, but none of the MK necks I have seen needed to have the shelf lowered (vs the nut).

I used to use my belt sander for the nut, but then I got me a spiffy disc sanding table.

 

[tone?]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

why does it seem more precise to me to apply a very light touch to the neck shelf with very high grit sandpaper to ensure it is flat then to apply hard pressure to a really hard floyd nut surface?

I am sure you guys know more than me since you have done this many times. But can the floyd nut be sanded evenly?

thanks!

yeah kind of dumb that Musikraft didnt cut the shelf lower and then put a floyd shim on instead of having to redo the shelf or file the nut as you guys are saying.
putting a different thickness shim is a MUCH easier fix. plus it is on in the same material and stable.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

Are you sure you just didn't buy the wrong nut or had the neck cut for a nut that was different than the one you already had?

Seems like buying a new nut would be cheaper and safer than modifying the neck or the existing nut.

 

[tone?]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

dude the neck came with the nut installed.
lol

im not a first timer

i am not as stupid as i sound. lol

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

Then that would be there fault lol.

 

[tone?]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

yeah their total boneheads

 

[AlexR]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

Is there a chance of getting some good (read - in focus) pics of the nut so there's a chance for our 'experts' to see what the best course of action is (scuse the pun!). We've so far had ringing endorsements for every type of method known to man.

 

[phred]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

FWIW I have had to sand down every Warmoth nut shelf too. CS said they would rather have them too high than too low. :scratchch It's easier to shim than to remove.

Scott

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

Send the neck back to Musikraft, and have them do it right if it was cut wrong. That is one of the benefits of buying new.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

tone?,

The downside to working the nut slot is that it is very easy (easier than you think) to round it over and then your nut won't contact properly. Then you try and fix that and you can end up taking too much off that way, possibly ruining your neck.

The steel nut can be easily held in your hand and lapped on a mill file laid on a bench, or a piece of sandpaper adhered to a flat surface.

You've been given some great advice from Dave Collins and Ayrton. If you don't believe these guys, I would suggest sending the neck back to be repaired by the factory.

Best of luck!

 

[tone?]

Re: Easy way to lower a Floyd nut shelf?

Brian yes I agree and will try that over the weekend
Thanks so much!