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Hi,

3rd guitar, 1st question on the forum.

I have a Martin kit I am building and I want to remove the rosewood headplate so I can replace it with another on that has been inlaid.

How do I go about removing it? 

Thanks!
Jim Musson

You can use a plane, sanding block or heat.
Just go slow and be sure not to take the headstock down further than the overlay.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lay a towel on the headplate. Slowly apply heat with a clothes iron. Using a thin pallette knife, begin to separate as the glue softens and work at it until it fully releases.

Then again, you could always use a plane!

BTW...welcome, Jim!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

OH! Welcome to the OLF!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks for the quick replies to my question and the welcomes!  I think I'll try the towel/iron method first.

Jim Musson

i would favour using heat. to minimise damage, begin working the thinned palette knives/ putty knives in from the nut end as this surface wil be covered by the nut when finished and any marks will be hidden. take your time and don't force it. when the glue softens the knives will slide in fairly easily. use a couple, working on alternating sides, leaving one in while advancing the other. this will keep the surfaces separated so that the glue does not reattach.

Been done a few times - no towel, just a hot clothes iron, takes about 5 minutes to get 'er off ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I've done it the same as Tony does. Just layed the hot iron on the headplate and waited till it got hot. Then slide a palette knife under it and it will pop right off.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

[QUOTE=musson]

Hi,

3rd guitar, 1st question on the forum.

I have a Martin kit I am building and I want to remove the rosewood headplate so I can replace it with another on that has been inlaid.

How do I go about removing it?

Thanks!Jim Musson

[/QUOTE]

The iron or the plane...Ive used both. Just one question..is the new headplate already inlaid? If so then youll have to think of some way to keep the headplate centred while glue is setting. Someone else might have some ideas on this one.

I have used a heat gun with good results.

Blake

I guess everyone pretty much covered all the otions! Good luck and welcome to the forum!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Shot gun...but then you have to fix/find the neck...

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I guess Dave woke up with is comedy personality today!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

[quote]Shot gun...but then you have to fix/find the neck...[/quote]

Pix Please!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

    Like JJ, I use a damp cloth laid on the plate and a clothing iron to heat it
while a thin spatula separates it from the headstock.

    The footprint of the iron allows the entire plate surface to be heated and
removed quickly and safely.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

I still like Dave-SKG's way better!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I stuck an old iron on mine and heated it up until I could remove most of it with a spatula. Now here's the part where you need to be careful. The last little bits that don't come off -- make sure you point the chisel away from yourself. When they come flying off and you have it pointed at yourself, you're most likely to stab yourself. For me, it was right about the heart area. Nice clean cut through the shirt, though, and me. Yeah. Scared the crap out of me. Put that in the don't do that again file.

Lance

Lance, you really used a chisel pointed toward you (enough said I guess)

The reason you want to use some moisture is to prevent the wood (veneer really) from drying out and cracking. If your not planing on reusing it, it's not that big of a deal, but I personally also use a moist towel or rag.

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Welcome to the forum Jim, If you do use the iron you really need to ether Buy an old junk iron to keep in your shop or don’t let the wife know what your doing.

Don't ask how I know.

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