Floyd Rose nut secure

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

Wait, how are you gonna cut the slots on a steel nut?
So you own the new Jackson replacement (and identical to the original) nut, right? If not you could helicoil the stripped threads of the original if you still have it.

I thought that's what those nut slotting file things were for from StewMac???

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Nuts_and_Saddles/Gauged_Nut_Slotting_Files.html

Are you telling me they will not work with these FR (or even the Jackson) steel nuts??? If that's the case: good job I didn't buy the things huh!!! LOL!!! I thought you could file these FR nuts down if needed???

I do have a new Jackson replacement (WR3) (as well as the original stripped nut). But the problem is the holes in the neck now (will take pics. when I change strings in and hour or so i.e. just busy putting in the Invader).

 

[greekdude]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

I thought that's what those nut slotting file things were for from StewMac???

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Nuts_and_Saddles/Gauged_Nut_Slotting_Files.html

Are you telling me they will not work with these FR (or even the Jackson) steel nuts??? If that's the case: good job I didn't buy the things huh!!! LOL!!! I thought you could file these FR nuts down if needed???

All you see in the photos are plastic/bone/graphite or other synthetic material nuts, not metal!

I do have a new Jackson replacement (WR3) (as well as the original stripped nut). But the problem is the holes in the neck now (will take pics. when I change strings in and hour or so i.e. just busy putting in the Invader).

I'd suggest to just fit the stripped original (without screws of course) and see if you get good sound and none of the buzzing problems . If that goes well repeat with the replacement (again no screws).

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

All you see in the photos are plastic/bone/graphite or other synthetic material nuts, not metal!


I'd suggest to just fit the stripped original (without screws of course) and see if you get good sound and none of the buzzing problems . If that goes well repeat with the replacement (again no screws).

Yeh. I noticed only bone etc. etc. etc. But surely there's a way of filing FR nuts correctly??? Just curious is all. Because based on my recent experience with this FR "Special" nonsense: I really don't see that "one size fits all".

And that's why I was asking about the glue thing on this thread. Idea was to glue the new Jackson nut in and see if it's good. If so then fill holes and screw in.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BESSEY-12-in-Parallel-Wood-Hand-Screw-HS-12/303261023

?? or something cheaper just for as long as you do your tests. Because you only worry about forces parallel to the headstock and perpendicular to the strings. The strings tension will take care of holding this down.
While you are at it, test with no pads and then with the pads clamped down.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

Hello again.

Hey thanks. Cannot access the link though i.e. it says "Forbidden" (I can only assume because of location).

I have a very odd feeling though that when I put 9's back on (from 10's) which I'm about to do: these issues are gonna disappear (this guitar has never sounded nice with 10's and that's actually when the fret buzz started). Will see. If that solves the problem then will leave this nut on as is. It's just the gap on the one side of the nut that bugs the living hell out of me (and oddly enough only one person picked up on this!!! LOL!!!).

 

[greekdude]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

In the link its just a wooden clamp, this is a very simple test. And yes, having your nut sitting on air is not a nice thing by any angle you look at this. Maybe you should try 9s with the original nut just to have all the initial parameters correct.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

Well here it is (below).

I need to fill those two holes with something that will hold the screws. The plan is to fill the holes, glue the nut on, and once the glue is dry then insert the screws. But what do I fill the holes with is the question???

The problem too is that these holes are not very deep at all and the screws that my intrepid Luthier put in when I messed this up before are much shorter than the normal FR screws. And for some or the other reason I don't seem to be able to drive the longer FR screws into the neck now i.e. it seems as though he filled my initial mess with something really hard that even the FR screws are not able to bore through.

I suppose I could drill pilot holes for the longer screws and then screw in the longer FR screws. But I dunno this seems to be a radical (not to mention that if I'm wrong on this nut issue then I'm stuffed).




P.S.

I have tried (previously) using the matchstick/toothpick + superglue method. Didn't really work for me. What's more: these holes are so shallow that I don't think this is gonna work anyway. Am thinking about the sawdust + superglue paste thingy (or possibly sawdust with white wood glue)???

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

I'm coming back in my next life as a Luthier (but if this carries on I may open a guitar repair shop in this life!!! LOL!!!).

Problem VERY nicely solved:

Got some EXTREMELY fine sawdust from the hardware shop. One hole at a time: filled the holes with superglue and quickly forced sawdust into the holes with a rounded knife end and let it all dry. Put the screws in then took them out and repeated the process. Nut now fitted STRAIGHT and SECURE i.e. it ain't going NOWHERE now!!! LOL!!!

Only thing you have to be careful of with this method is that some superglue and sawdust mixture may pop out of the holes and dry on the nut shelf. In effect: these little bits of mixture actually cause a bit of a bump on the nut shelf so when you put the nut back it cannot be flush with the nut shelf at these points. All one has to do is just sand the little bumps down so that the nut shelf is smooth and flat again and there ya go.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

This is the straightest, tightest, and most centered the nut has ever been on this guitar since taking it to a Luthier!!! LOL!!!

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

I’d just install the nut and not worry about filling the holes. You won’t see them anyway, right?

 

[greekdude]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

So which nut is this one? I have done all those kinds of experiments only to find out that nothing substitutes wood. So IMHO you should drill out sawdust and superglue and do it right. Apply the wood glue in, install/hammer in the dowels, let it dry, cut flush, mark the new holes, center punch, drill pilot hole, then screw by hand the new screws in. This fix will be permanent.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

I’d just install the nut and not worry about filling the holes. You won’t see them anyway, right?

Problem. The holes were stripped for the screws that were in the nut. AND, as it turns out, and as I found out this morning: I couldn't understand why I could not put the longer FR nut screws in i.e. they would get to a point and then go no further. Well guess what??? The year before last when I messed the original nut up: it went to my intrepid Luthier to fix. Well turns out: he never bothered to take out the piece of nut screw that remained as a result of my breaking one of the nut screws off in the neck!!!

So which nut is this one? I have done all those kinds of experiments only to find out that nothing substitutes wood. So IMHO you should drill out sawdust and superglue and do it right. Apply the wood glue in, install/hammer in the dowels, let it dry, cut flush, mark the new holes, center punch, drill pilot hole, then screw by hand the new screws in. This fix will be permanent.

This is the FR "Special" nut that was on the guitar except fitted properly. If it doesn't come right with the 9's (strings) then I'll remove and put a Jackson nut on again (at least now I can do this at will i.e. if I have to remove this nut I can fill the holes again with my "special sauce" and start over). I though about doing it your way but where would I get a dowel that thin i.e. certainly not here by me and certainly not today being Saturday. I'll see. Push comes to shove I'll either do that or take it to a Luthier (believe it or no I'm actually not very good with hands at this type of thing i.e. electronics and stuff no problem but woodwork and stuff ain't something I'm good at). But these screws, tight as they may be, are really only there to stop the nut from moving side to side are they not??? I mean the thing is indeed nice and tight but just how necessary that is I don't know.

By the way: gluing the nut is a waste of time. For one thing: the superglue (and I would imagine any glue) creates a type of "shim" (for want of a better word). And: it didn't work i.e. nut appeared to be stuck on but I removed it with a sturdy push of the fingers (would never have held under string tension). So: you all were right about that. Had to see for myself though!!! LOL!!!

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

Sorry. I know there's two threads going here about the same guitar but they're on different topics (my apologies anyway).

Well for some or the other obscure reason and without checking action or string height and neck relief: I got no buzz whatsoever with 9's. So EITHER whatever I've done with this nut has made a difference or I've put another nut on by mistake (I have a few lying around so who knows). I cannot see how the difference in gauge would have cured this i.e. if anything, and because the tension is lower, things could have gotten worse not better. NO idea. But whatever the case: so far so good.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

Dale,
Next time you can get some different sized dowel rods from a craft store and glue those in with wood glue then trim off the excess and light sand them flush.
Most times those dowel rods are glorified tooth picks, but they should be about on par with the strength of rosewood in the respect that they'll keep your nut secure atleast.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

he never bothered to take out the piece of nut screw that remained as a result of my breaking one of the nut screws off in the neck!!!

Oopss so the broken piece is still in the wood?

I though about doing it your way but where would I get a dowel that thin i.e. certainly not here by me and certainly not today being Saturday.

You can find those in hardware stores. You drill out first with the specified drill and then insert the dowel. Just make sure the dowels are hard wood and not too oily. (no rosewood)

By the way: gluing the nut is a waste of time. For one thing: the superglue (and I would imagine any glue) creates a type of "shim" (for want of a better word). And: it didn't work i.e. nut appeared to be stuck on but I removed it with a sturdy push of the fingers (would never have held under string tension). So: you all were right about that. Had to see for myself though!!! LOL!!!

Isn't this lovely experience

 

[greekdude]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

Sorry. I know there's two threads going here about the same guitar but they're on different topics (my apologies anyway).

Well for some or the other obscure reason and without checking action or string height and neck relief: I got no buzz whatsoever with 9's. So EITHER whatever I've done with this nut has made a difference or I've put another nut on by mistake (I have a few lying around so who knows). I cannot see how the difference in gauge would have cured this i.e. if anything, and because the tension is lower, things could have gotten worse not better. NO idea. But whatever the case: so far so good.

maybe the superglue "shim" raised the nut?

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

Hello.

maybe the superglue "shim" raised the nut?

You could be right. I don't really have the answer as to how or why everything has miraculously been resolved (string buzz). I've checked to see if there's any gap between the bottom of the nut and the nut shelf (on both sides) and there ain't so who knows. All I know is this: it's finished and it's AWESOME!!! As of this morning: the nut hasn't moved at all. I had to lower the action by some crazy small amount (could even be the smaller string gauge) so to me this means that there's been no appreciable increase in the nut height??? The neck relief has not changed at all oddly enough. And it intonated "perfectly" (you know the story with "perfect" intonation!!! LOL!!!).

Thanks to you (and everyone else) for the input and advice. Always very much appreciated.

If the nut "implodes" at some point in the future I'll have it done proper as suggested.

 

[SDB50]

Re: Floyd Rose nut secure

Well here it is (below).

I need to fill those two holes with something that will hold the screws. The plan is to fill the holes, glue the nut on, and once the glue is dry then insert the screws. But what do I fill the holes with is the question???

The problem too is that these holes are not very deep at all and the screws that my intrepid Luthier put in when I messed this up before are much shorter than the normal FR screws. And for some or the other reason I don't seem to be able to drive the longer FR screws into the neck now i.e. it seems as though he filled my initial mess with something really hard that even the FR screws are not able to bore through.

I suppose I could drill pilot holes for the longer screws and then screw in the longer FR screws. But I dunno this seems to be a radical (not to mention that if I'm wrong on this nut issue then I'm stuffed).


View attachment 95103

P.S.

I have tried (previously) using the matchstick/toothpick + superglue method. Didn't really work for me. What's more: these holes are so shallow that I don't think this is gonna work anyway. Am thinking about the sawdust + superglue paste thingy (or possibly sawdust with white wood glue)???

What year is that neck? I notice the truss rod nut must be at the other end of the neck. I'm just going through a similar issue with an '87 Charvel neck which originally had a Kahler. I had someone replace it with a 1984 era Floyd. It lasted for some years, but eventually you could hear a clicking sound at the nut when using the bar and the tuning was never right after pulling or pushing on the bar. When the nut and shim underneath were removed, you could see they used much smaller screws on the nut and they were practically in the truss rod cavity! Good to know the later necks changed the truss rod, but I'm curious as to when? Your neck definitely has more room for those screws than mine. The tech has figured out a way to fix it, but we also realized I had the wrong FR nut on there (an R2 instead of R4) Thanks for the pic!