Does anyone here rewind hard epoxy potted pickups?

 :

9/2/2002 2:47 AM

SK

Does anyone here rewind hard epoxy potted pickups? I was recently berated by a (return)customer because I told him it couldn't be done, and even if it could it would be cheaper to start from scratch. He told me I was wrong because he saw a website which showed an epoxy potted pickup "waiting to be rewound". Was I wrong in saying it wasn't feasible? (I'm pretty positive, but I ask just to be sure...)   I've learned to rewind most anything, but not epoxy...

 

9/2/2002 6:49 AM

Andy

Steven,     Rewinding epoxy potted pickups is certainly possible, however I don't.     The main reasons being cost - takes forever to dig all the components out of the epoxy and time is money, and components can easily be damaged therefore needing replacement.     Cast epoxy pickups cannot be repaired at all unless you are prepared to recast the whole again.     Should someone have a very, very rare pickup that has been potted in epoxy and who wants it repaired and are prepared to pay, (at least 4 times standard charge) then I may consider it, but as a rule I refuse to repair epoxy potted pups.     Andy

 

9/2/2002 10:22 AM

Tony@Mastertone

SK     As Andy put it, it can be done but the cost has got to be weighed up against the value of the pickup... Acetone is what breaks down epoxy as well as many plastics... so trying to dig out a coil can actually destroy the whole unit.... I build my pickups completely epoxy encased, for security reasons... you just gotta make sure you don't build a dud, cause its cheaper to throw the thing away than try and repair it if you do...high quality control..     As far as reliability is concerned I guess we'll find out in 30 years...I'm confident though as wire coatings have come a long way since the days of enameled Formvar...     Any comments...     Tone

 

9/2/2002 2:45 PM
SK	So, basicly I was right, but it is possible if you want it bad enough. Thanks

 

9/3/2002 7:06 AM

Andy

Rather than use Acetone for the inevetable guy who'll pay the earth to get an epoxy potted/constructed pup repaired - I have found that immersing the whole unit in hot water can soften the epoxy to a point whereby it can be peeled.     Just chuck the offending pup into a container of nearly boiling water - leave for 10-15 minutes and be careful when removing/handling, you should then find that the epoxy has softened (in some cases it turns to jelly) enough to be peeled off the main components. As it cools though it regain its brittleness so a repeat heating may be necessary.     THIS WILL, OF COURSE, DESTROY THE PICKUP SO SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS A LAST RESORT!!     Andy

 

9/3/2002 11:52 AM

MKB

I actually disassembled a Gibson Super Humbucking awhile back, because it was microphonic and was falling apart, and I needed the coils. I took a dremel tool with a dental burr, picks and screwdrivers, and gently chipped the coils out of the epoxy. It took a long time with much effort, but the coils came out with no breaks. The coils had tape around them which prevented the epoxy from entering the coils, and the epoxy did not stick to the bobbins.     Here at work we sometimes have to remove circuit boards from potting epoxy to diagnose failures, I use a sharp 1\4" chisel and a heat gun. When the epoxy gets hot it gets soft and easy to work with.     So, it is possible, but NOT recommended.

 

9/5/2002 1:18 PM
Mike Ripley	I Too disassembled a Super Humbucker without much of a problem. I destroyed the metal cover getting the pickup out, but, the pickup was intact. Epoxy is kind of unpredictable. Some is REALLY Hard & Chips out good, some is softer & takes more time.

 

Page 1 of 1