brucerobbins wrote:
>
(snip)
> Chuck's suggestion of using a torch to heat the alloy flanges to make
> separation easier raised one or two eyebrows. It was suggested that this
> could make the alloy very brittle if not done carefully. A better solution.
> I was told, would be dipping the hub in a hot oil bath.(snip)
The point of the propane torch is not the amount of heat generated (it doesn't take much to expand aluminum) but the control of where the heat is applied. I have never heard of this amount of heat making the aluminum brittle. I have also used this method to take the races out of Super Record headsets before anodizing (the race falls out of headset under its own weight incidentally) and never had any problems. Just my experience however...
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California