The final slot depths are somewhat a matter of taste on the part of the player, and a matter of skill on the part of the guitar tech. A tiny fraction of an inch deeper or shallower can make a big difference in action, especially in the first five frets or so. A slightly higher slot yields a more lively action in this area of the neck.

I’ve got my new bone nut fitting well in the nut slot. The ends have been trimmed down a bit, leaving about 1/16-inch overhang on either side. It is a good idea to creep toward the destination rather than cut the nut to the exact width of the slot. If you do that, there is no length left for filing and polishing without coming up short.

When I left off, I had just finished pressing 22 stainless steel frets into the maple fingerboard of an ’83 Squire Telecaster. The next job is to file down the fret ends. They are sharp now and easier to work on after this step. Using a smooth-cut file, I ride down the little tabs of the frets along each edge of the fretboard. Don’t over-do it. Make passes in the “cut direction” of the file until the edges of the fingerboard feel smooth.