shimmy Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Hi, Jst after some different tips and opinions on removing a bridge on an accoustic guitar.....I know heat is favorable method, but the finish on this guitar is very weak and I wanted to try and stay away from anything that might cause it damage.... Thanks alot shimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Hi, Jst after some different tips and opinions on removing a bridge on an accoustic guitar.....I know heat is favorable method, but the finish on this guitar is very weak and I wanted to try and stay away from anything that might cause it damage.... Thanks alot shimmy Try to use an accurate controllable heat source(like those small heat blankets that are about the size of a bridge. I think you will find not using heat will be risky. You run the potential of doing more damage to the soundboard, and taking a chunk up will most certainly do its fair share of finish damage. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shimmy Posted January 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Hmm....yea chunks could certainly cause issues One of the heating irons Stew Mac sells for heating bridges is just a piece of metal with a wooden handle that you first heat on a hotplate before heating the bridge.... Would something like this work? If I was to get the right kind of metal to hold the heat, pre heat it and then use it to heat the bridge? I guess that way I could get something of a safe size..... Thanks alot Shimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Hmm....yea chunks could certainly cause issues One of the heating irons Stew Mac sells for heating bridges is just a piece of metal with a wooden handle that you first heat on a hotplate before heating the bridge.... Would something like this work? If I was to get the right kind of metal to hold the heat, pre heat it and then use it to heat the bridge? I guess that way I could get something of a safe size..... Thanks alot Shimmy A heating iron would give you a good source. I was thinking about controllable heat blankets-click. They are kinda spendy though. I guess you would have to weigh the price against how often you do this and the value of the instruments. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shimmy Posted January 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Yea they look great and I'd buy one in a second if they were available in australia.... Its so much harder to get things here What do you think about using a hot knife or spatula? Thanks again for your help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 I am sure you could make a hot knife work. I believe you will just add a bit more risk(not that a hot iron or blanket will take away all the risk). Take it slow however you go about it, and don't push it if it is not looking good. Keep in mind the bracing on the other side of the soundboard is glued also(thus the importance of control,and caution with the moisture and heat). You might want to check around a bit. I know of a few guys over at the OLF that are in Australia. Maybe they could be helpful locating tools locally. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shimmy Posted January 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 thanks alot rich.... Ill let you know how i go Cheers Shimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shimmy Posted January 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 (edited) Ok so.... The hot knife worked really well...its really slipped through like a hot knife thru butter Umm the new replacement bridge is a bit bigger than the old one....expecially at the ends its a fair bit thicker.. This is a good thing since it'll cover up the footprint of the old one nicely but do I have to cut the finish away to match the new bridge before I glue it? Im guessing I need to align the new bridge, trace around it and cut the finish away.. One other thing, Ive uploaded a pic of the bridge footprint..I was hoping someone could tell me if it needs to be fillled before gluing.. This pic is directly after the bridge has been taken off...no sanding etc..... Thanks alot Shimmy Edited January 26, 2007 by shimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shimmy Posted January 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 PS sorry I downsized the pic right down but it still kept coming up large?? I couldnt find any rules on posting pics.... Please let me know if this is too big Thanks Shimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodWood Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Cool! Show us a pic of the hotknife please! You will have to take off the finish for a real good fit. Exacto blade (careful to cut only the varnish.) And you will have to measure the saddle exact to make the tone in tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Looks like you did good man. Very little damage at all. I would love to see a pic of the new bridge. Is that a pinless bridge? Is the bridge plate in good condition? Anyhow, You will need to clean the surface so you can glue the new bridge down. I can't tell from the pic what kind of glue was used. Was it hot hide or PV? If it was HHG you don't have to worry as much about cleaning. As far as the larger bridge. Let's see the new and old in a side by side pic. You do have to get that saddle dead on where it was before. If the saddle is in the same location and you have a very small lip that would overlap the old footprint. There is an option you have that could be nice, but I wanna see the bridges before I suggest this option. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shimmy Posted January 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 The knife I used was just the thinnest putty knife I could find....I heated it over a candle Worked like a charm...... It appears as tho it was hide glue....it had a yellowish color and was fairly brittle...from what I can see, its the original bridge from when the guitar was new.....(takamine).. I would love to hear this option ... The new bridge is about 1/4 inch bigger at the wings and a millimeter or so at the back..... Im just waiting for the camera batteries to charge and Ill take a pic Thanks Shimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shimmy Posted January 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 So heres a pic of the new and old bridge.....the old one is the top and new is bottom... as you can see the bridge willl be held down by 2 small bolts.. The finish is reasonably thick so Im guessing the only way is going to be to cut it out exactly the same as the new bridge....would the best way to do this be to temporarily correctly position the bridge in exact spot using the bolts to hold it down then trace around it? and cut that line out? Or just cut directly around the bridge while its mounted? Thanks alot Shimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 Shimmy, I would transfer the old shape onto the new. Then bring it down to where it is slightly oversized(say about 1/16"). Then make a route around the outside the bottom edge to create a lip(not too deep just a bit to clear the finish cleanly). This will allow you to overlap the existing finish with a clean look. You will still have plenty of surface to glue(and I would use HHG). Hope that helps. P.S. Don't forget to sand the bottom of the bridge to match the radius of the top.) Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaponepsilon Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Have you done any clean up around the finish yet? I have a bass acoustic that I got for real cheap because the bridge was misplaced and I have to remove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaponepsilon Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 I had to search a little to find this thread, but whatever happened to this one? I have a bridge that I have to relocate and I have the same impression left against the top. I need to fill this in before I probably move the neck position. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking of using either the wood filler method or use the cut-another-piece-of-thin-wood-and-glue-that-into-place method? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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