Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi guys
I'm going to try and take the neck off an old guitar to re-set the angle.
I don't have any special tools and I don't really want to buy any just yet - unless I really have to.

Do you have any tips for heating the fretboard and bridge ready for removal without buying a heating iron?

Thanks

Mat

Cardboard and tinfoil to make a heat shield (cardboard on the tinfoil) for finished bits, and a bog-standard clothes iron sans steam.

Thanks Mattia
Do you mean shield the guitar top and then steam the bare wood of f'board and bridge?

Just heat I think, no steam.

How long does it usually take to loosen up? I tried a heat gun on braces, and that was a disaster.

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Right - no steam as Mattia and Steve indicated.

Remember to remove the bolts too.........

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Matthew my friend I know that you don't have any tools for this but I thought that this bridge removal toot might be good reading for you anyway. Be sure to read everyone's comments because there are some excellent posts and tips from the forum.

http://luthiersforum.3element.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11038&KW=tutorial#forumTop%22

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Thanks Hesh - great toot!
I've been looking at the stewmac iron but the £'s low and the import duty makes it so expensive at the moment.
Think I'll try the iron and see how I go.

Iron works well. I just removed the neck out of an old Kalamazoo KG-14 (dovetail). I placed about 4 layers of aluminum foil over the fb extension first, then heated it with the iron. As it got hot, I slipped a couple of putty knives under the extension at the soundhole edge, and CAREFULLY and SLOWLY slipped them under, working my way toward the upper end. Be very careful, as it is easy to fracture the board at one of the fret slots. Also be very careful not to dig in with the knife, or get the handle part down on the soundboard, and be very mindful of the finish! That's how I did it anyway. If I had to guess, it took 20 or 30 minutes.

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Brad Tucker

I am wondering what is the effect of the heat on the joint between top, bridgeplate and the various braces running under. The heat can surely soften that glue too, not just the one between the bridge and top.

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Build log

one should limit heat exposure to just enough to loosen the FBE about 130-140F the FB will hold the majority of the heat but it is possible to allow too much heat in to the mix and loosend the top seam and UT brace and or graft.