new 'nuts' for taraf string

[ritu]

Hi
some of my taraf strings have cut into the small nuts on the bridge making them unusable. Can anyone offer advice? is it possible to buy new good quality parts and insert them?

[hansi]

I think I just found the answer... a set of new 'eyelets'
I just have to get good quality bone and the right shape to fit the holes I guess

[liza]

I had this same problem and had quite a time digging the broken eyelet out of the neck. One little piece fell into the neck and is still in the toomba. If possible hold the sitar upside down to avoid this and get some long and strong tweezers.

[biswchou]

I've heard that it's sometimes possible to free the 'eyelet' by inserting something into the hole and jiggling it. assuming that works, you then just rotate the (hopefully intact) eyelet so the crack/channel isn't facing the bridge anymore, and reglue.

I had an eyelet that was beyond hope, so I (ever so carefully...) drilled it out, using a drill bit which was just a little bigger than the hole - the eyelet pretty much crumbled. I then fabricated an eyelet out of a spare piece of antler - which took some time; oddly, the recessed hole that the eyelet sat in had a sloped bottom (perhaps to counter the tension of the string? Tony?) so, even if you did manage to find ready-made eyelets, you might have to custom fit them.

[pink]

I've heard that it's sometimes possible to free the 'eyelet' by inserting something into the hole and jiggling it. assuming that works, you then just rotate the (hopefully intact) eyelet so the crack/channel isn't facing the bridge anymore, and reglue.

I had an eyelet that was beyond hope, so I (ever so carefully...) drilled it out, using a drill bit which was just a little bigger than the hole - the eyelet pretty much crumbled. I then fabricated an eyelet out of a spare piece of antler - which took some time; oddly, the recessed hole that the eyelet sat in had a sloped bottom (perhaps to counter the tension of the string? Tony?) so, even if you did manage to find ready-made eyelets, you might have to custom fit them.

[liza]

usually go about it by gently hammering the sides of the eyelet from two opposite directions. I do that with the flat side of a screwdriver or anything similar (that can be wrapped in a cloth to avoid scratches).
On my sitar, the eyelet is easily dislodged with two percussions from opposite sides.
(this might not be very orthodox but that works for me)
I then rotate the eyelet to give it a n-th life of service.