removal of pin from mortise and tenon joint
stamant
| Posted in General Discussion on
I have a hand-made antique drawer unit that needs re-gluing. The stretchers are mortised and pinned to the legs. On other pieces in the past I have drilled out the middle of the pin and taken the pin out in pieces. I am not inclined to this approach since the pins on this unit appear to be hand-made [without a dowel plate.] Short of drilling out the pin, is there a less destructive way to disassemble the joint?
Replies
The way you've been doing it is likely the best, and only way. It's remotely possible you can simply punch the pin out, if it's loose. But I doubt it.
Old? Likely,or at least might be, hide glue and if so heat may soften the glue enough that it may be possible to punch it through. Your looking for a temperature of about 220 degrees, so not enough to burn or singe the wood. Sometimes steam is called for.
You can try a trick luthiers use if heating it with a heat gun or hair dryer doesn't work. If you have access to a steam generator of some sort (espresso machine will do!), rig up a tube that connects to the steam at one end and has a needle to fill a basketball at the other end. Drill a small hole on the border of the pin and leg, insert, and steam away. If it's hide glue, it will definitely loosen.
I can confirm the use of heat on old glue. I'm re-gluing some 86 year old chairs and the heat gun is essential in the disassembly process.