This old Rikhi Ram is having a problem: the joint got loose.
I handled the same problem before on another (left – handed) RR sitar. On that occasion I made a new joint which took a lot of work to make it fit perfectly. Now I turned an old pressure cooker into a steam generator which is used for removing and loosening the animal glue.
First step is to open the sitar :
Then I drilled a fine hole in the corner area of the joint in which the needles will blast their steam.
I add water to the pressure cooker and have the power switched on …
The steam (hot water) makes the glue liquid again. Then the neck can be removed from the body and a new joint will be made.
See some pictures about the continuation here :
http://www.sitarfactory.be/?p=139
I have been facinated with your site and will write more in the apropriate place, but just wanted to know how this worked for the repair?