What would you use?

[LtKojak]

I've recently got some Korean-made single-coils, made with steel slugs and a ceramic mag epoxy-glued to the bottom of a plastic bobbin.

I didn't have any trouble prying the mags out, but I can't take the slugs out (I'm thinking of putting alnico rod magnets in).

What would you use to dissolve that old epoxy at the bottom? Chemicals and such are really *not* part of my area of expertise, nice lingo to say that I'm the most complete ignorant on the subject that walks the earth on two feet.

All suggestions are welcome. I'm all ears!

[Jason Rodgers]

Do you have a drill press? You can gently press the slugs out with a bit or piece of rod smaller than the diameter of the slug (top to bottom). I bought a strat pickguard with some pickups as you describe at a junk shop and parted them out. It's tough to pry those ceramic bars out of the pocket with the glue. I broke one, so on the next one I pushed it out by pushing out the slugs.

[the great waldo]

Hi Pepe

2 pieces of wood either side of the polepiece holes and a G clamp to press the polepieces through the space between the wood blocks.

Cheers

Andrew

[big_teee]

What would I do or use?
I would throw them in the junk box with all the others I have, and make new pickups.
Usually you demolish the bobbin by the time you get the slugs out.
You might try some heat, either a heat gun, or the wax pot before pressing on them.
Sometimes heat does wonders!
GL,

[jack briggs]

agree with Jason - press them out. make sure to have a block of wood with a hole or holes in it just over the size of the pole pieces to act as an anvil

[Jim Darr]

I agree with Jason and Jack, except I'd use a small arbor press instead of the drill press. I believe I get more control and greater controlled force with the arbor press.

I've found that some of these plastic bobbins in general to be very sensitive to cracking and breaking. It seems that every time I drop one it leaves a little piece of the bobbin on the floor.

I also find some of these style bobbins to be extremely sensitive to heat when soldering the pig-tails to the eyelets.

As far as a solvent for the epoxy, I have no clue!!!

[copperheadroads]

I've recently got some Korean-made single-coils, made with steel slugs and a ceramic mag epoxy-glued to the bottom of a plastic bobbin.

I didn't have any trouble prying the mags out, but I can't take the slugs out (I'm thinking of putting alnico rod magnets in).

What would you use to dissolve that old epoxy at the bottom? Chemicals and such are really *not* part of my area of expertise, nice lingo to say that I'm the most complete ignorant on the subject that walks the earth on two feet.

All suggestions are welcome. I'm all ears!

If you want to get the slugs out ,Apply a little bit of heat on the top of the slug with the soldering iron only enough to soften the epoxy & not enough to melt anything .

[tedmich]

heat gently in oven and press out with a pin punch and one of these

[David King]

I would just heat up the metal parts with a soldering iron tip to soften the glue and press them out as suggested above. Most epoxies break down around 70-80º C

[NLS Pickups]

Not sure if it will work but maybe acetone will break up the epoxy.

[the great waldo]

Not sure if it will work but maybe acetone will break up the epoxy.

Yes and melt the bobbins!!
Cheers.
Andrew

[NLS Pickups]

Yes and melt the bobbins!!
Cheers.
Andrew

Didn't catch the plastic bobbin info, damn details.

[LtKojak]

Well, thanks everybody that chimed in.

Looks like carefully applied heat is the way to go.

I'll try this weekend and I'll report how badly I screwed it up!

Yours very truly,

[the great waldo]

Well, thanks everybody that chimed in.

Looks like carefully applied heat is the way to go.

I'll try this weekend and I'll report how badly I screwed it up!

Yours very truly,

Hi Pepe
You should'nt have much trouble getting the poles out, just give the polepieces a twist with some good pliers or mole grips. Epoxy doesn't really stick well to plastic. Warming the poles might make it easier but try the twist first.

Cheers

Andrew