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Hey, guys. I'm in the middle of repurposing a guitar neck for another build. I think it was made some time in the 50's or 60's.
The plan is to attach it to an electric body that matches it's size, and I can do all that work. The problem I'm having is that the steel truss rod in it now won't come unglued. So far I've tried vinegar on it with moderate success. The point of this build is to repurpose and build around the neck. Any tips for ungluing?

Have you pulled the fretboard?

Likely if it's an old neck from back then - most likely hide glue.

Most of the time heat does the trick. Or heat + wet.... Steam if it's really in there good.

If it's an old solid bar rod - try a soldering iron to get it good and hot. That may be all it takes. Even Epoxy will come loose with heat...

Thanks

I did pull the fretboard.

I tried a soldering iron on it and that didn't put enough heat through it to loosen it. I'll have to try a clothing iron on it next. If that doesn't work, I might try a heat gun.

What brand of guitar? That may help us to narrow down glue.

Does the glue have any specific smell when it burns under the soldering iron?
Hide glue smells like burnt meat/skin.
Epoxy smells like burnt chemical
Urea Formaldehyde smells like formaldehyde
Super glue smells like super glue.
Etc.

Also - some old trussrods get pretty rusted in place. Those won't come loose unless you pry them out.

I got it out yesterday. It was definitely hide glue. When I originally started working on it I thought it was rusted, but the glue was laid on so thick around the truss rod it actually protected from oxidation. So lucky me.
I did blow out a little bit but I have to sand the neck down to true now anyways so it's not a big deal.

Glad you figured out your ungluing problem tilze08!

Not to derail the post - but super glue is the last glue I would ever use to glue a neck to a body.... Well maybe 2nd last after that foaming Gorilla glue.

Even epoxy is easier to get loose with heat should you ever need to....

It's great for some things like gluing in rosettes and the occasional stray tentellone ..... Great for spot filling dings in certain finishes.... But not for anything you ever need to get loose again for service.