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Not cheap I know, but decent nut files aren't. I admit to making do for many years with a few basic sizes and a selection of modified needle files and hammered-down junior hacksaw blades, but it wasn't ideal. The right tools just make life easier as well as probably do the job better.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
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I've got an old set of Allparts nut files and a set of StewMac (mostly for bass).
The .010 rarely gets used anymore (partly because it's bent in all directions due to its thinness and the occasional sticky bone nut) I use the .013 for anything up to .013 (sometimes the StewMac .012 if I remember) but again due to sticky nuts it's about 1 1/2" long now
There aren't any sets that do all gauges of strings so there's usually at least one slot that you have to make slightly oversize, and after a number of years compromising I've come to the conclusion that as long as you're not going completely mad, a little oversize doesn't matter. If you assume you're making a U shaped channel then the string is going to lie at the bottom of that and be held there by tension, so nothing to worry about.
As long as the slot is truly smooth and rounded at the bottom, even more than 50% larger should be OK - a couple of times I've widened slots drastically for a baritone conversion with up to a .075" low B string, and been able to go back to a standard set of 10s without replacing the nut.
I used to do that with my hammered hacksaw blades and needle files, but now I have actually got a full set of proper nut files I find it easier to go oversize instead.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/3pcs-Double-Sided-Guitar-Nut-Slotting-Saddle-Files-Luthier-Tool-6-Sizes-Edges/19013319427
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https://guitarsandwoods.com/hosco-double-edge-nut-files-for-electric-guitar-set.html
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I found these though, which I prefer the look of - any opinions?
https://crimsonguitars.com/store/nut-slotting-file-sets/
the light set goes from 9-42, which is the string size that I use.
the smaller files will be very flimsy, takes some time to get used to them. I think the double sided ones may be a bit more intuitive for a beginner as they are much stiffer
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You really don’t want the strings to fit the grooves tightly, it causes tuning problems. OK, you can also rock the files to widen the grooves, but it’s easier not to.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Apologies for butting in..
Si
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Part no. 4449EG61
Thomann used to stock them but only do different gauges these days from what I can see.