Making a Bone Nut Blank

[Freddy G]

I had to install a new bone nut on a guitar and all the blanks I had were not quite wide enough. So I had a piece of cow bone sitting in my drawer for years that belonged to my dog Bondo (she liked to chew it!). Bondo passed away about 10 years ago and it was nice to think about her while I worked this material. Hey, so I shot a vid of the process. Probably pretty mundane stuff to a lot of you guys, but somebody might find it useful.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpts_rB0Ag0]Making a Bone Nut Blank.mpg - YouTube[/ame]

 

[jonas 335]

This is the next step in my LP build. so good timing for me , thanks Freddy! PS - I'm also doing it from a piece of cow bone. It's been hanging in the woodshed for a year and was not new when I got it so I hope it's aged enough - is there any way to tell if it's not?

 

[DanielDeGregoriis]

Cool vid! Your vids are always so informative!

BTW, don't you just hate that smell? I wear my paint-respirators when cutting/grinding bone, I really, really can't stand the 'perfume'

 

[FF_Pedals]

Perfect coffee sipping vids...

What kind of guitar is it?

 

[TKOjams]

Sticky!!!

 

[Freddy G]

I'm also doing it from a piece of cow bone. It's been hanging in the woodshed for a year and was not new when I got it so I hope it's aged enough - is there any way to tell if it's not?

You want to make sure that the bone is completely de-greased. For a fresh bone you need to start the process by bringing it to a boil in a pot of water then turn it down to simmer for a couple of hours.
Let it air dry after that for a few days, then soak it in coleman's fuel for a couple of weeks. This is really important to de-grease the bone. After removing the bone from the coleman fuel it should dry pretty fast. If you see any translucent spots that means it still needs to be de-greased more. Careful with the coleman's fuel...it's flammable.

BTW, don't you just hate that smell? I wear my paint-respirators when cutting/grinding bone, I really, really can't stand the 'perfume'

Yes, it's a rank smell for sure!

Perfect coffee sipping vids...

What kind of guitar is it?

It's a Simon and Patrick...one of the La Petrie guitars. (Godin, Seagull, Norman, Art & Lutherie)

 

[PoorMan]

Freddy, you rule. Your vids have been so great. I've gotten so much out of them.

Thank you.

 

[blamo]

awesome video.

very informative.

 

[jagedum]

I really like your videos, I am learning a lot.

Im currently working on a nut made out of moose bone, i guess its quite similar to cow, smell is nasty.. I need to buy me some decent string slotting files to finish it though.

Tell me, why does the bone need to be de-greased before you start working on it? Will it be softer or more fragile?

 

[Freddy G]

Tell me, why does the bone need to be de-greased before you start working on it? Will it be softer or more fragile?

If you don't de-grease, the bone will give off grease and that could be very bad for finishes, glue joints, staining etc.

 

[TKOjams]

Hey Freddy, could I go to Petco and use one of the larger bones they sell for dogs to knaw on?
Maybe a silly question but, just wondering.

 

[gator payne]

Hey Freddy, could I go to Petco and use one of the larger bones they sell for dogs to knaw on?
Maybe a silly question but, just wondering.

it is done all the time. Be ware that not all the pet store bones are fully blanched of fatty deposits. A good boil and a few days of sun drying will take care of that.

 

[TKOjams]

it is done all the time. Be ware that not all the pet store bones are fully blanched of fatty deposits. A good boil and a few days of sun drying will take care of that.

Good to know Gator, thanks.

 

[The Refugee]

Damn that was cool. Very interesting stuff!

The chord at the end sound amazing, man! Very nice work.

 

[FF_Pedals]

Freddy, I've got a nut question. I figured I'd post it here rather than start a new thread. Hope you don't mind. Anyone else is welcome to answer too.

I built my newest guitar with a Gibson/Martin style nut but on a paddle Fender style headstock.

For simplicity I'd like to just glue the nut on the ledge but there is no veneer pressing up against it so I'm wondering if it would be better to file a nut pocket 1 or 2mm into the neck. The truss rod is not under the nut, it adjusts at the pickup.

I have a stewmac nut seating file but I find it really hard to file a straight ledge, I always end up with a convex ledge. Also, the stewmac file does not seem wide enough for any Gibson or Martin nuts. I'm pretty sure I bought the right file.

Would having the nut in a "pocket" be better for tone or using a vibrato or can I just glue it right on the ledge?

EDIT, the nut in the photo is not the nut for this guitar, it's just an old beater I used for testing it.

 

[blamo]

Freddy, just wanted to thank you again for this video!!!

I cut my first bone nut the other week after watching this video and it turned out great.

I do wish i had a belt sander like in your video though. sanding it by hand took a VERY long time. is there an alternative to speed it up the shaping process? the bone blanks I have are about 1/2" longer, 1.5x thicker and almsot 2x as tall vs the finished product.

I also do not have a bandsaw.

 

[Freddy G]

Would having the nut in a "pocket" be better for tone or using a vibrato or can I just glue it right on the ledge?

No, not necessary at all to trap the nut in between the fretboard and a peghead veneer (or cutting a pocket).
Just make sure that the nut is seated nicely on the bottom as well as up against the fretboard at the same time. A couple of drops of glue and you're good.

 

[Freddy G]

Freddy, just wanted to thank you again for this video!!!

I cut my first bone nut the other week after watching this video and it turned out great.

I do wish i had a belt sander like in your video though. sanding it by hand took a VERY long time. is there an alternative to speed it up the shaping process? the bone blanks I have are about 1/2" longer, 1.5x thicker and almsot 2x as tall vs the finished product.

I also do not have a bandsaw.

Glad it was useful to you!

Files, hacksaw, jeweler's saw, a piece of float glass or other flat surface with sandpaper glued to it (I use 150 grit). You don't need machinery...just ask yourself "what would Barnaby do?"

 

[Ole'Lefty]

I would cautiously comment that a trem equipped guitar might benefit from mechanical support-some type of entrapment. I'm not nearly as knowledgeable as Mr.G, though.

 

[FF_Pedals]

No, not necessary at all to trap the nut in between the fretboard and a peghead veneer (or cutting a pocket).
Just make sure that the nut is seated nicely on the bottom as well as up against the fretboard at the same time. A couple of drops of glue and you're good.

Thank you sir.