Sanding down saddle?

TimmyO

Having dug out a very old acoustic I'd like to see if I can sort the very high action it has had since I bought it about 15 years ago! 

It's probably not worth paying for someone to do it and the truss rod seems fairly straight, so will try and sand down the bottom of the saddle a little (the nut is a bit beyond me I think - will see how a bit off the saddle goes. There is good break angle currently at the saddle) 

What grade sandpaper would you advise? (it is made of tusq and I have a flat surface to do it on. )

Ta

TimmyO

Mobile autocorrect sorry.

TimmyO

edited the autocorrect gobbledygook on laptop now :-) 

mellowsun

Don't laugh but I use one of these, it's perfect as it has two grades of emery board on each side and is dead flat

https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/view-all/file-a-foot/p/p000172

Lewy

I tend to just use the graded sheets you get in a diy shop multi-pack, going from roughest to finest as I get closer to where I want it.

TimmyO

thanks guys

BigLicks67

I just use the finest sand paper I've got.

Jalapeno

I tend to use 360 grit for those sort of jobs - I bought a big roll of it for not very much off Amazon

Sassafras

I use a 600 grit DMT diamond plate, guaranteed flat and cuts finely and quickly.

guycp

Use coarse grit first, then when you are near the height you want switch to fine.
Measure height at 12th fret, then remove saddle & reduce height as required. If your'e not sure, check by putting saddle back in and string with at least top & bottom E to test. As a rule of thumb if you want to reduce action at 12th fret by 1/64th then you need to remove 1/32nd from saddle.
It's also good to check that the nut is the right height but BEWARE, it's very easy to cut nut slots too deep, -then you'll have to fill them or have new nut made.

octatonic

I use 120-150grit for saddles.