Question- is a .013 file ok for a .011 e string?

[Darren Kern]

I'm getting ready to order nut slot files from Stew Mac, but the closest they have to .011 is .013, is that close enough? I use J74s and was planning on getting an .013, .016, .028 and .042, the string sizes are .011, .015, .026, and .040 Does this sound like they would work ok? Thx.

[Bill Snyder]

The double edged nut file is .012 on the small side.

[Gibson A5]

Darren, that's the same problem I had when I ordered and I got the same ones your looking at and they work fine. You can angle them some if you need the slot a little bigger, but the .013" one works fine for the .011" string. At least that's what I have found. I got the cheapies from StewMac (not cheap, but compaired to the other ones they sell they are)and I'm very happy with them. The beveled diamond ones would be much better, but will rip a new hole in your wallet if you buy them all at once. I will get better ones when these cheapies go bad, maybe one at a time and I won't get such price shock.
Bill P.

[acousticphd]

I have the same set of file sizes you're considering, plus a couple extra for guitars and other instruments. I think they will be fine for mando string sizes. You can rock them files a bit to get a slightly wider slot, or you can lightly buff the slots with a folded piece of 220 or 400 grit sandpaper. Be careful about trying to file deeper than ~1 string diameter, because these files tend to grab and bind, and that can mess up your precision when you're trying to give the slot just one or two more strokes.

[Darren Kern]

Thanks folks. #Bill, I didn't think about the double edged files. #I can't buy the whole set, but it looks like there isn't one that would work well for the .028 D string. #I went ahead and ordered the double-edged .012/.016 and the single (cheaper) .028 and .042 files for the G and D strings. #

[Dave Cohen]

If you put calipers on several examples of the files, you will find that they are not all the same size, i.e., not all of them are the advertised size. One of my friends at Stew-Mac admitted/confided that the files are good to +/- 0.002". Occasionally, I have asked the 'phone rep to measure the file and pick one that came closest to the advertised specs. It is probably not something that they want to make a practice of, but the folks at Stew-Mac have been nice enough to indulge me on occasion.

[Darren Kern]

Good to know Dr. Cohen, thanks. I guess I need to check the files with calipers when they arrive, and work accordingly.

[whistler]

In my own limited experience, I have found using files to match the string gauge results in the slots being too tight, and I have ended up using the next available size (several 1000ths wider). This doesn't seem to have caused me any problems.

[Michael Lewis]

When your files arrive cut a notch with each of them and measure the notches with feeler gauges. I have found this to be more accurate than using a caliper to find what size they actually are. Then mark the files for the actual size.