Hi Stan,
Yes, I've removed just a few sets. One of them, I used a oxy-acetylene torch, because it was convenient. The other two, I used my propane torch at home. The small Home Depot type are hardly enough to heat a set enough to remove ribs. I don't recall the BTU rating on my larger torch, but it's maybe 2 times the heat of my Home D auto ignition type.
I just heat the barrels until they fall off. You're going to have to do the full re-laying of them anyway. Don't fret if they separate between the barrels. If you try to start at the muzzle end and pry up the rib as you heat along the rib, you end up with a curved rib once it's removed. Just heat until gravity lets it fall off.
Check out Drew's site for that article I typed up on putting the barrels back together. It's really not rocket science and it's not all that scary. The wire rigging makes it simple soldering. Also, I think Claudio wrote one too.
Let me know if you have any questions along the way.
Last edited by Chuck H; 10/08/09 11:44 PM.
