- Q.After a wood joint
glued with yellow carpenter’s glue has cured,
is there any way to disassemble the
joint?
A.Both yellow and
white PVAs will soften and lose some of their grip
if you saturate the joint with hot vinegar. Use a
syringe to introduce the hot vinegar. If necessary,
drill 3/32-inch holes in an inconspicuous spot to
get the hot vinegar into the joint. Let it sit for
at least 30 minutes, and rewet the joint if it
looks dry. Then try to wiggle the joint apart. Do
not whack it with a hammer (at least, not very
hard), as you run the risk of breaking the
wood.
— J.J.