Stewmac Heat Stick - FRETS.NET2024-03-28T13:10:24Zhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/stewmac-heat-stick?commentId=2177249%3AComment%3A279737&feed=yes&xn_auth=noVery good, thanks Roger.tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-09:2177249:Comment:2799862021-07-09T00:34:07.277ZDave Richardhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/DaveRichard983
<p>Very good, thanks Roger.</p>
<p>Very good, thanks Roger.</p> I use a handheld steam cleane…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-08:2177249:Comment:2798362021-07-08T20:03:27.852ZRoger Häggströmhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RogerHaeggstroem
<p>I use a handheld steam cleaner. I have removed the plastic safety handle to be able to refill the hot steamer, the replaced output hose goes through a small plastic petrol tank to catch some excess water. A rubber band is added to keep the on-button down for a continuous stream of steam. I have about 10 minutes or so of steam before I have to refill.</p>
<p>I use a handheld steam cleaner. I have removed the plastic safety handle to be able to refill the hot steamer, the replaced output hose goes through a small plastic petrol tank to catch some excess water. A rubber band is added to keep the on-button down for a continuous stream of steam. I have about 10 minutes or so of steam before I have to refill.</p> Ok, thanks!tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-08:2177249:Comment:2798352021-07-08T19:06:31.353ZDave Richardhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/DaveRichard983
<p>Ok, thanks!</p>
<p>Ok, thanks!</p> I use the old standard 2-qt a…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-08:2177249:Comment:2797372021-07-08T17:26:23.895ZMike Kolbhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MikeKolb
<p>I use the old standard 2-qt aluminum pressure cooker, with an auxiliary "second stage" that's nothing more than a small coffee can with an "in & out" hose, just to catch some of the water as it exits the pressure cooker. </p>
<p>It helps a bit and I figure that any improvement of the "water/steam" ratio is a step forward. Been meaning to try a cheap cappuccino machine someday, just haven't found one at the thrift store yet!</p>
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<p>I use the old standard 2-qt aluminum pressure cooker, with an auxiliary "second stage" that's nothing more than a small coffee can with an "in & out" hose, just to catch some of the water as it exits the pressure cooker. </p>
<p>It helps a bit and I figure that any improvement of the "water/steam" ratio is a step forward. Been meaning to try a cheap cappuccino machine someday, just haven't found one at the thrift store yet!</p>
<p></p> Thanks Mike, but I already bu…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-08:2177249:Comment:2798302021-07-08T16:21:53.786ZDave Richardhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/DaveRichard983
<p>Thanks Mike, but I already built and used Frank's air harness, which did help immensely. but some guitars inexplicably take their sweet time(which sometimes isn't very long at all) releasing, allowing for steam damage. </p>
<p>What's your steam generator setup?</p>
<p>Thanks Mike, but I already built and used Frank's air harness, which did help immensely. but some guitars inexplicably take their sweet time(which sometimes isn't very long at all) releasing, allowing for steam damage. </p>
<p>What's your steam generator setup?</p> Some time back (yikes, could…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-08:2177249:Comment:2798272021-07-08T13:54:31.016ZMike Kolbhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MikeKolb
<p>Some time back (yikes, could it be almost 25yrs now?) Frank wrote about one of his phenomenal ideas that he labeled "the air harness" ...for mitigating finish issues with steam when doing a neck reset. <br></br><br></br> I was so intrigued that I built a version and still use mine regularly... although, to be fair, it's only pressed into service if there's any indication that the steam damage on a particular guitar will be excessive, or if the particular guitar (from the outset) seems so valuable…</p>
<p>Some time back (yikes, could it be almost 25yrs now?) Frank wrote about one of his phenomenal ideas that he labeled "the air harness" ...for mitigating finish issues with steam when doing a neck reset. <br/><br/> I was so intrigued that I built a version and still use mine regularly... although, to be fair, it's only pressed into service if there's any indication that the steam damage on a particular guitar will be excessive, or if the particular guitar (from the outset) seems so valuable or fragile that it's worth pulling-out all the available stops.</p>
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<p>Here's the link from the frets.com page... that Ford boy, always thinking, huh?!</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Tools/AirHarness/airharness.html" target="_blank">http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Tools/AirHarness/airharness...</a></p>
<p></p> I just used the Heat Stick to…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-08:2177249:Comment:2798262021-07-08T13:34:10.318ZDave Richardhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/DaveRichard983
<p>I just used the Heat Stick to remove the neck from a '45 Martin 00-18. It did take a relatively long time(almost an hour), and I had to clean off the heat stick frequently(every minute, at one point), to prevent it sticking. 'Clean off' meant scraping off the glue build up with a small scraper, a pain. The joint did eventually separate cleanly, and most importantly, to me, no steam damage the the very thin, brittle lacquer finish. To me, that's the only advantage of the Heat…</p>
<p>I just used the Heat Stick to remove the neck from a '45 Martin 00-18. It did take a relatively long time(almost an hour), and I had to clean off the heat stick frequently(every minute, at one point), to prevent it sticking. 'Clean off' meant scraping off the glue build up with a small scraper, a pain. The joint did eventually separate cleanly, and most importantly, to me, no steam damage the the very thin, brittle lacquer finish. To me, that's the only advantage of the Heat Stick.</p>
<p>I'm curious, about those of you who prefer the steam method: are you able to avoid steam damage to the finish? In the past, when using steam, I mostly avoided it, or if there was some minor blushing, was able to remove it with alcohol. But sometimes the damage, while slight, was there, and noticeable, requiring some amount of touch-up or repair. I used an old Krupps cappuccino maker, which, even with the steam control knob, generated copious quantities of steam. What are you others, who prefer the steam method, using as steam generators, and are you able to greatly reduce the quantity of steam, to prevent finish damage?</p> That's about the same story f…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-07:2177249:Comment:2798872021-07-07T10:41:47.857ZRoger Häggströmhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RogerHaeggstroem
<p>That's about the same story for me. The heat stick got stuck in the hole and the soldering iron broke. I went back to the old and trusted method using steam.</p>
<p>That's about the same story for me. The heat stick got stuck in the hole and the soldering iron broke. I went back to the old and trusted method using steam.</p> A follow up to this post... …tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-07-06:2177249:Comment:2797302021-07-06T19:00:39.716ZChris Vallillohttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/ChrisVallillo
<p>A follow up to this post... I have used the heat stick attached to a soldering iron for three neck removals with very mixed results. I missed the pocket on the first 2 by a small amount and it took a terribly long time to generate enough heat to soften the glue. In both cases, I ended up having to add additional water to the joint line as it started to loosen up. On the second attempt, after about 1 1/4 hrs, I tried to remove the heat stick (I had been removing it periodically to avoid…</p>
<p>A follow up to this post... I have used the heat stick attached to a soldering iron for three neck removals with very mixed results. I missed the pocket on the first 2 by a small amount and it took a terribly long time to generate enough heat to soften the glue. In both cases, I ended up having to add additional water to the joint line as it started to loosen up. On the second attempt, after about 1 1/4 hrs, I tried to remove the heat stick (I had been removing it periodically to avoid sticking) but the soldering iron itself, came apart. This is the set that Stu mac sells and I followed the video meticulously. It specifically said that if you missed the pocket,it was OK...just leave it in place and the heat would eventually spread throughout the area and loosen the joint. </p>
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<p>Stu Mac was kind enough to replace the damaged iron and I tried to use this set up on a 3rd guitar, a 1964 Guild F-30 NT Special. I was extremely careful when drilling the guide hole, first using a small bit to locate the pocket and hit it perfectly. An hour or more of letting the heat sink in simply didn't loosen the neck at all. Rather than risk damaging the guitar, I ultimately removed the stick and went back to steam which was successful. </p>
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<p>Sadly, I just don't think that the soldering iron version of this tool can generate enough heat to work on a big neck joint like a Guild. I think using multiple irons from 2 sides might work, but that's double the expense. I will continue to try to master it on older, cheaper parlor guitars, though.</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9210470681?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9210470681?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p> It hasn't so far, and I've ha…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2021-03-26:2177249:Comment:2785652021-03-26T01:41:00.033ZDave Richardhttps://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/DaveRichard983
<p>It hasn't so far, and I've had several neck removals that took that long. I have the StewMac supplied controller with the digital readout: temp is set about 400 degrees centigrade. </p>
<p>Most removals do not take anywhere near as long.</p>
<p>It hasn't so far, and I've had several neck removals that took that long. I have the StewMac supplied controller with the digital readout: temp is set about 400 degrees centigrade. </p>
<p>Most removals do not take anywhere near as long.</p>