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Topic: Source for Nylon Tuning Nuts? |
Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2007 10:33 am |
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What's the least expensive source for various length nylon tuning nuts...unthreaded, of course? I know places like George L has them, but I'm looking for a supply house to buy bulk.
Anyone have a source?
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
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Don Poland
From:
Hanover, PA.
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Posted 23 Jan 2007 11:01 am
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Mike, try contacting WW Grainger or Mcmaster Carr and check their hex stock. You can usually by it in lengths ofr 4-6 feet and cut to size. If you don't see it in there online catalog, give them a call, most times they will have what you need or know where to get it.
Regards, |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2007 11:04 am
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Thanks, Don. I'll give 'em a ring.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 23 Jan 2007 12:20 pm
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I think George L is the only source for tuning nuts, aside from the ones made by some steel builders to fit their particular guitars. The George L nuts seem to actually be made of plastic, rather than nylon, the nuts on my Fessenden, for example, are made of hard hex nylon material. The nylon is a much tougher material. I think that George L nuts would probably be the cheapest, the hard nylon nuts have to be custom made. Here's a picture of some that I made:
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Paul Redmond
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2007 10:12 pm Tuning nuts
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Most of the hex nylon you buy from supply houses is type 101 nylon, a good general-purpose material. George L's tuners are made from injection-molded 428L nylon which has approximately 16 per cent greater tensile strength than 101. The 'L' denotes that it contains a lubricant which allows them to go on the rods a little easier and prevents them from seizing on the rods after they get older. You cannot buy 428L in bar lengths unless you want a producer to run you a boxcar full of it. The George L's nuts all have a washer face on them which can be run right up to the changer fingers without the use of a spacer or washer to avoid deflection caused by the points of the hexes. When drilling your own in a lathe, feed must be constant on the drill or you'll cause a partial 're-melt' of the material resulting in inconsistencies from part to part. . .one will be too tight, the next too loose, etc. I developed that particular tuning nut in 1987 and it remains the most accurate and dependable tuner available in the world today. For small quantities, it's more cost-effective to turn up a few on a lathe. Over the long haul, if large quantities are needed, injection-molding remains the most viable alternative. Be prepared for sticker shock on the cost of the mold. George L's does sell in quantities to bona fide manufacturers.
PRR |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2007 4:29 am
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WOW, Paul. Thanks for that write-up. Very thorough and consise. Well, I don't need a boxcar full, so I'll just get some from George L.
Once again, there's a lot more involved with a steel's construction than most of us realize...well, at least more than I thought!!
Thanks, also, to all that replied to the question. I appreciate your help.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 25 Jan 2007 6:27 am
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"L" for lubricant???
George L's stands for George Lewis. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2007 7:31 am
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Jack,
I think he was referring to the 428L. |
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Paul Redmond
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2007 4:48 pm
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In going over some ancient shop notes a couple days ago, I discovered that it is not 428L nylon, but rather 408L. (It WAS a long time ago!!) The very first tuners were molded using a DuPont 408HSL material. The 'HS' stands for heat-stabilized. This additive allows the material to be used in parts where there is a lot of heat such as carburetor and fuel injector components. It also causes streaking in the direction of material flow that cannot be defeated even with the 25-to-1 Chroma White color additive used in the tuners. So the 'HS' was omitted and I settled for just the 'L', or lubricant, factor. I should have dug through those old notes first before trusting my memory after so many years.
PRR |
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Tom Mossburg
From:
AZ,
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Posted 2 Feb 2007 8:15 am Stock for Nylon Tuning Nuts
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| Where can you get the raw stock for these tuning nuts? |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 3 Feb 2007 9:24 am
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Maybe it's a closely guarded secret. 
But, I'd like to know, too.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
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jay thompson
From:
east peoria, il USA
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Posted 3 Feb 2007 10:54 am Nylon Tuning Nuts
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Cope Plastics has what you are looking for.
Try a search for a location. Regards, Jay Thompson |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 3 Feb 2007 5:54 pm
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| Mike do you need them for a music store? Just curious. |
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Tom Mossburg
From:
AZ,
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Posted 6 Feb 2007 3:01 pm
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A J
I think Mike is restoring his guitar. I'm looking to restore a couple MSA's. I'm still coming up dry on a source for the stock. The best I could do was: Acetal Celcon® Hex Rods-Natural. Does anybody know if this is the right stuff? |
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