toneblind Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Any advice on removing the stop bar threaded inserts? I’m installing a Bigsby B6G on my current project (ES 335 Copy) and the threaded inserts for the original stop bar will be left behind and unused. I’ll be refinishing the guitar (with a painted top), so I’d like to pull these out and plug the holes. Is there some experienced Luther’s trick for pulling inserts without damaging the top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Screw the post into the insert halfway, then use a hammer to pull it like a giant nail. Just be sure to put something in-between the hammer head and the body or you'll dork it up pretty badly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripthorn Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I actually use something like a socket placed right over the insert. Then I use a washer and a bolt of the right size and thread pitch to thread into the insert. As you keep turning it, it will pull the insert out. The advantage to this is that it will always pull straight up and minimize damage to the wood and finish around the inserts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I do something similar to Ripthorn. Find a bolt with the same thread as the insert, a large washer and a piece of wood. Drill a hole in the wood big larger than the insert you want to remove. Position the wood over the insert and put the washer on top. Pass the bolt through and into the insert and start screwing it in. As the bolt head presses against the washer/wood it starts drawing up the insert. If the insert is still halfway in the body by the time the bolt meets the end of the thread just back it out, shim the block of wood up and start again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bukoffsky Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 (edited) As curtisa said, only take a piece of wood 1 mm thicker than the length of an insert. Works like a charm. No rip whatsoever. actually there's a thread about this> here. Just avoid the first video. BAD idea Edited January 31, 2012 by Bukoffsky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneblind Posted January 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 As curtisa said, only take a piece of wood 1 mm thicker than the length of an insert. Works like a charm. No rip whatsoever. actually there's a thread about this> here. Just avoid the first video. BAD idea Thanks for the advice. Since I wasn't able to find any videos on the technique, I made one: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 actually there's a thread about this> here. Just avoid the first video. BAD idea yet it works simply and easily for me 9 times out of 10... you just have to be capable of not forcing it. if you feel you will have to force it you stop and try something different. quite simply really but people only ever seem to want advice if it works 100% of the time, which i dont think any method does! i have used it on loads of guitars and never damaged a single one. i wont deny that it could be possible to split a body with the method... but a little common sense is all that is needed to prevent that ever happening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bukoffsky Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 OK, sorry, let me correct myself... IF you have a thin (guitar) body this is a bad idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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