Is it easy to take off nikel covers?

[Young Angus]

I got my new paul and not that i actually want to do this, but in case i change my mind how hard is it to remove nikel covers from pickups? Is it just a case of unscrewing some screws then taking it off and putting the screws back in...or is there more to it than that?

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Is it easy to take off nikel covers?

Take a dremel tool with a thin carbide grinding wheel and just cut through the solder on both sides...Most times you can just pull the cover off,but other times you need a bit of heat from a hair dryer to loosen the wax up...Check out my tutorials in the vault under replacing a humbucker magnet..I show how to remove and reinstall the covers...

John

[stratsandaks]

Re: Is it easy to take off nikel covers?

Also if you use Stratdeluxer's method, re-soldering it is very easy if or when you decide to put the covers back on.

[Young Angus]

Re: Is it easy to take off nikel covers?

So if they're wax potted will they have wax and crap under the cover?

Excuse my ignorance if thats a silly question...

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Is it easy to take off nikel covers?

So if they're wax potted will they have wax and crap under the cover?

Excuse my ignorance if thats a silly question...

Good question actually...There's normally a light film of wax on the inside of the cover and on the bobbin tops...I Like to put a layer of masking tape over the slugs,put the cover back on,clamp it,resolder it,and then hit it just long enough with a hair dryer to melt the wax again..

John

[theboatcandream]

Re: Is it easy to take off nikel covers?

ehhhh... just took the cover off of the pickup in my new epiphone explorer... it's like a block of wax.... tried chipping it off, I'm such an idiot. I think I cut something bad. Good thing it's just an epiphone pickup... I guess this is a learning experience. I work nights, I've been awake for 23 hours, ehhhhhh! :'(

[bryvincent]

Re: Is it easy to take off nikel covers?

ehhhh... just took the cover off of the pickup in my new epiphone explorer... it's like a block of wax.... tried chipping it off, I'm such an idiot. I think I cut something bad. Good thing it's just an epiphone pickup... I guess this is a learning experience. I work nights, I've been awake for 23 hours, ehhhhhh! :'(

use a hair dryer when removing the wax, just blow to the pickup and wipe the wax when it starts to flow. and you dont have to remove the 4 screws at the baseplate when removing the cover.

[theboatcandream]

Re: Is it easy to take off nikel covers?

Thanks, it's too bad that I already killed the pup... even though it was only worth around $3.00. I'm actually upset because I'm tired and did something stupid, it has little to do with the damage I actually did.