Heating pad for Martin guitar bridge plate removal

Sorry I’ve been away for so long, I’ve been sooo busy! This morning was spent steaming quite a few Martin necks out of their bodies. This is part of the neck re-setting process. The fingerboard extension is warmed up with a silicone heating blanket, then carefully loosened from the soundboard with a thin palette spatula. A small hole is then drilled in the 15th fret’s slot after the fret is removed. A long thin needle is inserted, which is connected to a steam fixture. The steam is sent deeply into the neck joint. When it’s ready, the glue softens, and the neck can be removed. After sitting in a climate controlled environment for a few days, the neck heels’ joints will be ready to be carved back to correct the neck angle, then glued back into the bodies.