Replies

1. 
   jptenberg | Dec 21, 2004 07:29am | #1

   There's a good chance that it was built w/ hide glue, in which case heat will soften the glue and release the bond.  you might try wraping the joint with a damp towel, and then covering it with an electric heating pad to see if it will loosen up.

   I haven't used this technique, but I remember reading about it somewhere in one of the various mags, but I can't recall where.

   Good luck

1. 
   301 | Dec 21, 2004 08:35am | #3

   If you want to refinish the wood anyway just apply some heat from an old electric iron.  Place a sheet of brown paper between the heat and the wood to protect the iron and the wood from scorching.  It will take some serious heat on all sides of the joint.  I do this all the time and have never permanently damaged the wood but it will kill the finish. 

   Furthermore you can clamp some wooded blocks to the pieces you want to dissassembled and then hammer them apart with a wooden mallet.  Go easily and try to make the stretcher pull straight out and not at an angle.

2. 
   DennisS | Dec 21, 2004 08:09am | #2

   Dread -

   I'm under the impression that heat will soften even the more modern woodworking glues as well as hide glue. Whether it takes so much heat that it would discolor the wood I don't know, though. I just finished reading a book on various woodworking topics one of which was about taking apart glued joints. This author advises that white and yellow woodworking glues can be softened with moisture along with moderate heat - but you have to be patient. He shows using one of those types of clamps that can be reversed to apply pressure in a spreading direction. Dampen the joint and shine a strong incandescent or halogen light on it then apply a little sreading pressure. Keep the joint just damp so the moisture will eventually begin to affect the glue in the joint.

   As he says ... it takes lots of patience...

   ...........
   From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.
   Dennis
3. 
   dread | Dec 21, 2004 08:55pm | #4

   Thanx for the advice.I think I will try to seperate the joint.I found it interesting that everyone that responded would pop the joint rather than work on the desk assembled.Thanx again.

4. 
   Elcoholic | Dec 21, 2004 11:54pm | #5

   The joints are cross-grain on the tenon faces and end-grain on the top and bottom.  The glue is old and probably will let go if persuaded.  I'd wouldn't worry too much about the tenon breaking, but I would be more worried about the edges the mortise pulling away and tearing out along the grain.  I'd use the reversable pipe clamp (spreader) approach.  I've read that hot vinegar softens-up PVA glue pretty well.  If you're sure the M&T's weren't nailed and the stretchers are simple to replicate you could just cut them off and re-chop the mortises.

   John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   The more things change ...

   We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized.  I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

   Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC