Removing Perfection Pegs

[polkat]

I have an ok neck here that can from a smashed cheap violin, but, it has a nice set of Perfection Pegs installed that I'd like to reuse. I might want to reuse the neck sometime, so I don't want to break it up to get the pegs out. Unfortunately, it appears that super glue was used to install the pegs. I realise that they might just pop out with a little force, but what would you do here?

[DonLeister]

If you have put them in before then you know they are threaded into only the wall of the pegbox nearest the thumb piece and they are threaded left and righthand threads so that the pull of the string tightens the threaded shaft should the glue fail.

I think I would try soaking the glued part of the shaft with acetone and grasp the rest of the shaft with a rubber padded shaped tool like a wooden clothespin maybe?

I understand that the plastic used for the pegs is rather brittle, so easy does it!

[duane88]

The shaft of the pegs are metal, and I have removed them by putting a soldering iron on the center section of the peg (where the hole is) and allowing the heat to conduct to the threads. MOST adhesives will fail with the heat and you will be able to unthread the pegs. I used a thick leather glove to grasp the peg with-it will be hot. Resist the urge to use pliers. Resist the urge to attempt to twist the peg out by the head. If they have been installed correctly, the treble side should unthread clockwise, and the bass side counterclockwise, or digital and anti-digital(!).

John Herrin is quite helpful-via e-mail, the phone is hit or miss, and I have found best in the mornings SC time-and you could shoot him a e-mail and see what he says. He did invent them, and I bet he has a best way to get them out.

I just went in and looked at a set in the bag, and the threaded section appears to be aluminum. The instructions want you to use polyurethane glue, but I can't bring myself to have that near a violin.

[polkat]

duane88, I've talked to Mr. Herrin in the past when he advised me that there is a small amount of lubicant inside them (if I understood him correctly). I'd be lery of what heat might do to that lubricant. I've successfully installed these pegs in the past (without using any glue at all by the way) and I understand the thread directions, but thanks!

Don, sounds like the key word here might be acetone. I've actually used acetone in mixing colors for oil varnish, but I don't know what it might do to the black coloring on the aluminum of the pegs (or the surrounding dry varnish for that matter). Perhaps I can introduce a few drops from the inside of the pegbox to avoid color damage on the exteriors?

[Fellow]

I have an ok neck here that can from a smashed cheap violin, but, it has a nice set of Perfection Pegs installed that I'd like to reuse. I might want to reuse the neck sometime, so I don't want to break it up to get the pegs out. Unfortunately, it appears that super glue was used to install the pegs. I realise that they might just pop out with a little force, but what would you do here?

+++++++++++++++++

Use a new set of perfection pegs. Forget the old set and leave it in the old pegbox,

A risk of breaking both is not worth in taking.

Second choice is to cut the peg box. At least you get the perfection pegs in tact.

Why worry to repair a cheap peg box.

[Doug Marples]

Sometimes vinegar will help break up a cyanoacrylate bond, or you can buy proprietary "debonder"

[Michael Richwine]

I took a couple out the other day, in conjunction with another repair. I just pulled the head out and stuck a 25 watt soldering iron in the housing. These had been installed with polyurethane glue, so I just watched until the glue softened and unscrewed them. They came out pretty quickly with no smoke, no problems at all.

If you've got another kind of glue , heat may not work so well, but the installation instructions call for PU glue specifically because it is easy to debond with a little heat. I would think that white and yellow glues and hide glue would react similarly. Dunno about CA.

[lvlagneto]

I never thought I'd see the day when it would be desirable to to preserve a set of plastic pegs.

[duane88]

I stand by the soldering iron. It doesn't get hot enough to damage the lubricant, and everything but epoxy-to include CA-will fail at a fairly low temp.