Official Luthiers Forum!

just reading the posts there about a dovetail neck reset
where the joint swelled up with the steam and the guitar was ruined
i recently used a hairdryer to take off a dowel joint neck
could you not just put hot air through the needle instead of steam
anyone tried this ?
just a thought

no you need the steam. Taking necks out is an art but every once in a while you have to deal with the devil. You can't assume all necks are glued in with wood glue . Epoxy , is a pain

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

thanks john some sound advice i just hope all those dowel necks
are done with wood glue. ill definatly keep that in mind
and invest in a nice japanese saw

With just hot air there is also a chance of of scorching not only the fingerboard where you drilled the hole but the dovetail and possibly even a fire since you are concentrating very hot air into small area with no outlet. With hide glue if used the moisture will help it release even so to a degree with titebond. Now with epoxy joints the steam and heat helps very little. I have ruined a cheap plywood yamaha 12 string that was epoxied and I didn't know. The top to a degree and the sides at the joint started to peel. It was my guitar so it wasn't that bad but i did like that guitar so that was a lose.