Replacing 2 nuts, put my mind at ease.

[solspirit]

I've never done it because I was always afraid of chipping the fretboard.
. Please talk me through it. Lol

 

[beaubrummels]

From the title

Lots of videos. Google is your friend.

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=aebc663c531febdd&q=how+to+replace+t he+nut+on+an+electric+guitar&udm=7&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQ LP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWp6IcynRBrzjy_vjxR0KoDMnCPR1aB39Sej wIm6m0bxhOJOZgvt-SiLxUmxJDXoorBj_E_zN6TyGKxQSSVC2InqOYRO15b8ySLwMs2 GSnmW6AzwM1zI5h2dqPLEqO5oY79zqUbZilOR0asfWJEI0IuT0 TEj4czyWBM93iYEe-TNEy8W64D6VmZVGo43wzLJEifXziVVw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiw m-nDhPSLAxWiOTQIHe7NNcYQtKgLegQIGRAB&biw=1585&bih=85 7

 

[solspirit]

Sometimes I'd rather interact with people

 

[GuitarStv]

The nut should be held down with a single drop of glue on the bottom in the slot that it sits in. I take a sharp utility knife and score between the knife and the guitar finish at the edges in case there has been any finish overspray (this way the nut will slide out cleanly and not chip the finish). Then put a punch in the middle of the nut at the top and give it one light blow with a hammer. Never had any problem with fretboard chipping doing this, but check the nut slot after removal - sometimes you might need to clean up a tiny amount of glue in the bottom with a razor blade or thin chisel. Then fit the new nut, put a drop of glue on the bottom and stick it back into place.

If you don't have to cut the new nut, I'd say that nut replacement on a guitar is only slightly harder than changing strings.

 

[ICTGoober]

And don't use CA glue. Titebond or even Elmer's glue will work for holding a nut in place.

 

[ehdwuld]

I agree with Steve
for the Gibson style nut

If its the Fender style in a slot
you will need to drive it up from one side
After scoring the edges with a razor for the same reasons described by Steve

 

[ICTGoober]

I use nippers, pulling slowly straight up to remove nuts,

 

[GuitarDoc]

Good suggestions, especially scoring around the old nut with a sharp blade to prevent chipping.

The most cautious way to remove a nut with no possibility of chipping fretboard or finish is to score all the way around the nut with an exacto knife, then cut almost all the way through the center of the nut lengthwise with a hacksaw or coping saw, pinch it with pliers until it breaks in two, and pull out the two pieces.

Never worry about destroying the old nut...there is a good reason that you are replacing it and you will NEVER reuse it.

 

[ehdwuld]

I have removed nuts for some fretboard thing and put them back
or shimmed them up to reuse them

different strokes i guess, pun intended

 

[ICTGoober]

Never throw them away - they can always be cut down for reshaping to fit a smaller neck. I've cut down old Gibson nuts to use on Fenders, and old Fender nuts cut down to make ukulele or mandolin nuts. It's raw material, and shouldn't be wasted.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yeah, well that's a totally different thing. Removing a nut to do a fretboard repair and replacing the nut requires much more delicate removal.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Never throw them away - they can always be cut down for reshaping to fit a smaller neck. I've cut down old Gibson nuts to use on Fenders, and old Fender nuts cut down to make ukulele or mandolin nuts. It's raw material, and shouldn't be wasted.

Not if they're plastic nuts. Just throw them away...not worth the trouble and effort to cut down and reshape.
But, yes, I have lots of removed bone nuts that I reshape to use for other guitars or projects. But that's for us luthiers who do lots of this kinda stuff. For someone working on their own guitar it's best just to take care not to hurt the instrument even at the expense of a cheap nut.

 

[ehdwuld]

Some of the plastic ones are hollow
I have a pps version
That has the glass ting when dropped
like Paul Reed Smith showed in that famous nut video

it's hollow

 

[solspirit]

I'm not cutting, they came precut and slotted and I have a few sets of those cheap micro-files and needle files if I need to.