Insert puller

[Patrick from Davis]

Does anyone know of a good source for a tool to pull out the bridge inserts?  I don't have a drill press, so I can't use anything like that.  I was thinking of something similar to a steering wheel puller.  Maybe something like that that I can block up on some pieces of wood with felt under them.  I just keep finding things for taking studs out of engine blocks when I search.  Thanks ahead of time
Patrick

 

[Cagey]

Get a bolt of the right thread and diameter, run it in a bit, then put a piece of wood on the body to protect it and use a claw hammer to pull the bushing. You may have to go around the thing once or twice to make sure it pulls out evenly.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Any more elegant solutions than a claw hammer?  I was hoping that there was something that the force could be evenly spread with.
Patrick

 

[Cagey]

Stewart-MacDonald has something they call a "Knob and Bushing Puller" that should do the trick.

They want $45 for the bloody thing, which looks like it should cost about $8, but it's designed specifically to do what you want to do. As a bonus, it already includes bolts and washers for most of the common sizes of bushing threads, which could save you a trip to the hardware.

 

[line6man]

Stewart-MacDonald has something they call a "Knob and Bushing Puller" that should do the trick.

They want $45 for the bloody thing, which looks like it should cost about $8, but it's designed specifically to do what you want to do. As a bonus, it already includes bolts and washers for most of the common sizes of bushing threads, which could save you a trip to the hardware.

Why not make one yourself?
All you need is a piece of felt-covered wood with a hole in it, a properly sized and threaded bolt, and a few washers.

 

[pabloman]

Slide hammer from Harbor Frieght. :headbang1:

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Yeah, I built something like that already out of a block of wood.  I'll put a square of neoprene on the bottom to ease the interface, I have some already.  Thanks for the suggestions.
Patrick

 

[Kublai]

For future reference, if any one does use a clawhammer to remove inserts on a carved top (this may be an issue in flat top also, I have never tried it) do not place the fulcrum point over the control cavity. The top is very thin at that point. I learned this the hard way.  :sad1:

 

[pabloman]

Yeah there's absolutely no reason to have a claw hammer anywhere near your repair station.

 

[Cagey]

Buncha sissies.

 

[leo12.]

Get a block of maple 2"x2"ish x (almost as tall as bolt you got)  drill centre of block wider than insert  (sand sharp edges of block that will contact face of guitar)
Get a fender washer.
Get a bolt with same thread as insert.
Drill fender washer just enough so bolt slides through hole.
Put felt / card board  on guitar put maple on that put fender washer on top thread bolt through washer into insert enough to get a few turns
into insert without bottoming out.
Turn with a ring spanner you will feel insert come up nice & easy. :glasses10: