Replies

1. 
   Sphere | Dec 27, 2007 12:53am | #1

   There is a steam/needle injecter that luthiers use, I have one. Short of that, drill a small well concealed hole 1/32" or so, and try injecting hot water to loosen the glue.

   It likely is hide.

   Any veternarian can get ya hooked up with the hypodemic neerdle.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   "Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"

1. 
   willy | Dec 28, 2007 02:01am | #4

   Thanks Sphere for your suggestions. I have a .5 mm needle so will do the injection. What is a "luthier"? I can't find it in the dictionary.

1. 
   Sphere | Dec 29, 2007 06:46pm | #5

   A maker of stringed instruments.

   Steaming is often used to remove neck joint dovetails and fingerboards of fretted instruments.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   "Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"

2. 
   hammer1 | Dec 27, 2007 01:01am | #2

   Often, a little heat will loosen the glue. I use a heat gun on a low setting. You can bake parts in the oven for a couple of minutes under 200°, but don't take your eyes off it.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

3. 
   PCM | Dec 27, 2007 04:18am | #3

   You are correct in insisting on disassembling all the joints, because they are probably fractured and weakened by time. I have used vinegar injected into the joints and sometimes wrap a saturated rag around the joint. I also use a rubber "no bounce" mallet to gently tap the joints. Time consuming but necessary.

   If you have broken dowels or tenons, replace/repair with all-thread of the appropriate diameter/length and epoxy glue. I know repair gurus who wrap cotton cloth around the tenons, and may try this someday.

   Pete