remove epoxy-glued scales?

[gemeengoed]

hi guys,

i just realised that my scales don't line up with the tang and i am left with these slits inbetween. is there a way to unglue these parts? what first comes to mind is the use of a heat gun, but before i potentially ruin the wood or anything else i thought i first ask here.

cheers

http://imgur.com/DOC8N6L

 

[Lieblad]

.....

 

[NWAlabamaHiker]

I had this happen not long ago - I put mine in the oven for about 15 minutes on about 250°
When I got it out, I still had to work a little bit to get it off, but it worked. I think a heat gun would be too much direct heat for me to recommend doing that- but I could be wrong.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Warm them to 250°F for a while and slide a sharp blade under the scales. They will lift free.

 

[gemeengoed]

thanks for the advice. i carefully used a heatgun for about a minute or two and i could easily tap out the pins. never knew it would take so short a time.

 

[Ted01]

I believe some epoxies lose a lot of their "peel strength" at either very low or very high temperatures, so the bond between scale and liner will weaken. The data sheet for the epoxy might tell how the peel strength changes with temperature.