Okay, here goes!  I have read many articles about all the various ways
in which to rebuild the glued Gulbransen stacks, including laying it on
a slightly convex concrete floor and whacking it to break it apart,
deep-freezing it to weaken the glue joints and then whacking it, and
the most popular: sawing it precisely in the right spot which varies a
little depending on which article you read, then gasket the whole thing
(with a gasket of your own creation) to compensate for the saw cut and
bolting it back together.  Each author offers personal testimony about
the success of their personal favorite procedures and I appreciate the
information more than they can know.

I have also recently read about a procedure to disassemble pneumatics
by heating them in a microwave to soften the old hide glue by heating
it.  HHHuuummmmm!

If you can soften old hide glue by heating it -- and from what I have
read so far it seems to be one of the wonderful characteristics of the
stuff -- why couldn't I heat up the stack in a very large oven and
simply tap it apart?  It seems to me a very logical approach to the
restoration.  Has anybody ever tried this or had similar experiences?
I am anxious to hear from anyone who has worked with old hide glue.

Sincerely,
Doug Anderson

 [ The ordinary oven heats everything, whereas the microwave oven
 [ puts the energy where you want it: into the glue.  So the wood
 [ and felt and leather won't be dried to crispness.  -- Robbie