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I've been using my fret pullers, and they work great except that they put marks in the saddle - pretty inconspicuous if I'm careful to grip the saddle right where it meets the bridge, but marks I'd rather not have, nonetheless. I tried grinding down the jaws of a fret puller a bit, to round them off so they wouldn't bite into the bone, but I'm still getting marks.

Anyone have a favorite tool or tip for this? I'm sure there are simple and obvious ways to do this simple task and I'm just being a bonehead...

Thanks.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

I've got a designated pair of pliers for this task. I put a layer of gaff tape on the jaws to avoid the grooves in the saddle.

Todd, I couldn't upload a pic. but I ground a tool similar to the fret nippers and grab the saddle close to the bridge and it comes out nicely.Is anyone else having trouble with pictures?

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Similar here. Cheap mini end nippers with the cutting face ground flat and
the upper corners softened. They are the same tool I reach for to pull bridge
pins.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Same as Dave and Dave
It's a Dave thing

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

I need a new name.

I'm in a building with David Orlin (bowmaker and repair) on the main floor,
David Perample (piano/organ teacher) up on the second, and until a few
months ago David Sutherland (harpsichord builder) was sharing the
downstairs shop area with me.

What are the odds? Apparently not too bad...

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

We have an all Dave's jam at Winfield each year.
23 Dave's all playing at the same time.
Man it's like being in heaven

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

rather than the mini end cutters i prefer a normal sized pair. they give enough depth to get a good grip on the saddle down where it meets the surface of the bridge and there is no need to grind the interior of the jaws, just round the cutting edges. plus the fact that greater gripper surface gives a more powerful grip in the saddle without increased pressure levels.

I have now renamed mine the " Dave Dave Saddle pullers"

Thanks Dave and Dave and Dave and Dave.

Cheers Craig

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Thanks for all the responses.

Paul - I never heard of gaffer's tape before (I assume that's what you mean... that's what came up when I googled for "gaff tape"). Looks like very useful tape. I'll have to get me a roll.

Maybe I just didn't do a good job grinding down the fret pullers. Those of you who describe doing this seem to have done pretty much what I did, but, as I said, I still get marks in the saddle.   

Sounds like Michael's idea of using full-size end cutters might be worth a try.

I'm also thinking of ordering a pair of these:

soft jaw pliers

I think I'd find these very useful around the shop, and maybe just the perfect tool for pulling saddles. Not cheap, though. Anybody have any of these?

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

[QUOTE=Dave Rickard] We have an all Dave's jam at Winfield each year.
23 Dave's all playing at the same time.
Man it's like being in heaven [/QUOTE]



I think all the Davids in heaven play harps.    I read that somewhere.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Dave Andy is in heaven?

Wow Man, i wish i lived closer to Florida too!

I have used taped pliers and also a dental pick. If there is a space at the end of the saddle, you cab lever the saddle up at one end and then use your fingers.

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

you could always dip the business end of the nippers in plasti-dip.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

[QUOTE=old man] [QUOTE=Dave Rickard] We have an all Dave's jam at Winfield each year.
23 Dave's all playing at the same time.
Man it's like being in heaven [/QUOTE]



I think all the Davids in heaven play harps.    I read that somewhere.

Ron[/QUOTE] .

I've heard that too Ron . As a matter of fact, I've never met a bad Dave .Always real good b-----s   

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Dave Andy is in heaven?

Wow Man, i wish i lived closer to Florida too! [/QUOTE]
Sergio, Florida is nice Most of the time but it sure aint heaven with all the hurricanes and sink-holes and Humidity and so on...... But I wish you did live down here man!!Make a move
Todd- Those soft jaw pliers do look ideal for saddles

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

[QUOTE=Rod True] you could always dip the business end of the nippers in plasti-dip.[/QUOTE]

Now, there's another good idea. I've been thinking of using that stuff for other things as well. I've never known what it was called, though, so I hadn't been able to find it (not that I'd tried very hard). Just googled for "plasti-dip" and found it all over the place. Thanks, Rod!

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Dave, you forgot crocos!