| Author |
Topic: I Need to Fix My Nut |
Larry Carlson
From:
My Computer
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Posted 11 Jul 2016 5:09 pm |
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Yeah, ha ha.......no smart remarks please.
I recently bought that Rickenbacher Silver Hawaiian I posted about a while back.
It is back together, everything is working great and it sounds wonderful except:
I have a nut problem.
The 3rd and 6th slots are low. Low enough to make playing difficult.
If this was any other nut I would just file down the high 4 or toss it and make a good one. I have made dozens and I am actually fairly good at it.
The nut is made of bakelite I think. It is a nut I cannot replace if I mess it up.
All I would like to know is: would you carefully file down the other 4 slots down or use a very thin coat of epoxy to build the two slots back up?
The two slots are low enough to where some serious filing on the others will be required.
This may be a naive question but it is a situation I haven't come up against being it is an irreplaceable part.
Thank you for any advice.
Everyone have a good day.
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Larry Carlson
From:
My Computer
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Posted 11 Jul 2016 8:01 pm
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Thank you for the replies.
I never thought of trying super glue.
I also have some Devcon out in the garage, if I can find it.
I will give the super glue a try first and see how that goes.
Thanks again, I appreciate it.
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2016 8:42 am
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| I don't believe a Silver Hawaiian is Bakelite, or I could be wrong. |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2016 10:38 am
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I have had good success with the super glue and baking soda fix. I believe that Stew-mac has a video on the technique.
Good luck with your project! 
_________________
"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Frank James Pracher
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2016 10:56 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
| I don't believe a Silver Hawaiian is Bakelite, or I could be wrong. |
True.. but I believe the nut and bridge on them might be..
_________________
"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one" |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 12 Jul 2016 10:58 am
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Depending on the color of the nut you may not want to mix in material with the superglue. Superglue dries clear and the fix is invisible. The baking soda is white and works great to fix bone or plastic guitar nuts. But I have used super glue alone and it dries very hard and clear, and may be sanded or filed if needed after drying.
Dom
_________________
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 13 Jul 2016 6:09 am
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| Todd Clinesmith wrote: |
| Rick Aiello has recommended Devcon Steel epoxy for bakelite repairs, and it seems folks have been happy with his advice. Do a forum search and you will see this for your self. ... |
Todd's advice is spot on. There are few with more experience repairing bakelite than Rick and the Devcon Plastic Steel epoxy is his go to product for repairing overcut nuts and bridges. As I recall, he also recommends a 7 day cure for full hardness.
_________________
Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
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Larry Carlson
From:
My Computer
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Posted 13 Jul 2016 6:36 am
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Thanks for the additional replies folks.
After reading some more I went out and found the Devcon in the garage.
I'll take my time and do the best I can.
I like this old guitar so much it's almost embarrassing.
It sounds wonderful. 
| Quote: |
Erv Niehaus wrote:
I don't believe a Silver Hawaiian is Bakelite, or I could be wrong. |
Erv; My guitar is an all steel model with nickel plating. The nut and bridge are bakelite.
At least that is what I assumed. They are black, not really plastic. Very hard.
All I remember about bakelite is from the old ashtrays and phones. Other than that........
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2016 6:51 am
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| I seem to recall Rick saying that he mixed some bakelite powder in with the Devcon to make it black. I could mail you some this weekend but it would delay your repair by about a week, coming from MD. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2016 7:10 am
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Larry,
Yes, that would be bakelite.
That was the predecessor to plastic.
The base material for bakelite was ground up walnut shells. |
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Larry Carlson
From:
My Computer
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Posted 13 Jul 2016 7:12 am
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Bill,
Thanks for the offer, I appreciate it.
I am going to go ahead and use what I have here.
What I use to fill in will be under the strings and mostly hidden anyway and the color appears to be close.
For a 77 year old guitar this thing is in remarkable shape but it does have it's share of pinhole size corrosion spots, wear marks etc.
One more little boo boo won't be much of a detriment. I just want to get it in the best playing condition I can.
I have no idea why I am so enthralled with this little guy.
5 seconds after I first saw it in the store "I'll take it" came out of my mouth. That's never happened before.
Thanks and have a good day.
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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Larry Carlson
From:
My Computer
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Posted 13 Jul 2016 7:16 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
Larry,
Yes, that would be bakelite.
That was the predecessor to plastic.
The base material for bakelite was ground up walnut shells. |
Thanks for that info.
I had no idea how it was made.
All I remember was that I think it was brittle.
A dropped ashtray would often shatter and there were little chips off the phones etc.
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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