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Everytime I try to heat a driver head to remove it from a graphite shaft with a heat gun I ruin that part of the shaft in the hosel. No matter how hot I get the head the shaft breaks down and stays in the clubhead or it is weaken to the point of being bent. I pull straight no twisting. I have ordered a head puller but still wonder why I can't break down the expoxy. I used the burner on the stove once and it smoked and came right off. Heat gun I and I have problems.

I was looking into this a while back and it seemed like you need to keep the heat gun there for like 3 minutes or something while a torch can be used for only 30 seconds to remove a steel shaft. How are you trying to pull the head off with no head puller, much less straight? By hand? Is it in a vise of some sort?

Try using a propane torch.

I have found the easiest way is to cut the shaft right at the hosel (after removing the ferrule) and then drilling the old shaft out. If you are careful, you don't take as much of a chance of ruinging the head.

If you use heat, try using a butane powered torch. They sell them at Wal-Mart and other stores. Butane is cooler burning than propane and taks more time to heat,, but is much less likely to burn the head. And for goodness sake, buy a head puller!

Obviously you don't believe in re-using pullouts. Do you do this with higher end shafts like NV's and such? Seems like a waste of money there to me. Don't mean to sound critical...just don't understand why you'd do it that way.

I second the propane torch. The only shaft I have ever ruined trying to pull out was from a cheap club.

I've got a spring loaded shaft puller and use a hot air gun to breakdown the epoxy. Never have had any problems with damaging either the head or shaft this way.If you use a propane torch, you have to worry about turning the head colors from the heat or burning the paint on a driver or fairway wood head. I second the advice about not cutting off the shaft, not with a $85.00 NV65 shaft at least.

Being a clubmaker I remove heads daily. DO NOT use a propane torch you will burn the paint on the head and probably ruin the shaft. Try a heat gun and a shaft puller, if you don't have a shaft puller a simple pry bar with a hosel protector will work fine. Shaft the club in the vice next to the head cut off the ferrule being careful to not cut yourself or to gouge the paint on the head place the ferrule hosel next to the head apply heat for a minute at least and try to pry it off straight don't twist will break the shaft, if still not loose more heat for another minute, try to pry off again repeat process until it lets go may have to heat 5 or 6 times but it will eventually come off.
Ken Boucher
PCS Class A clubmaker

Thank you Ken for posting these instructions.

I'm strictly an amateur clubmaker, just started making a few this year. But, I've managed to remove a few heads by placing the club in a kettle of boiling water for about 10 minutes and then pulling the heads off by hand. No damage to the head or shaft. Make sure you have an understanding wife before you try this, otherwise your kitchen privileges may be revoked.

-- "Your worst day of golf is better than your best day at work"

Exacto.... If you are going to be doing shaft cahnges/pulling somewhat frequently, I highly recommend a professional shaft puller, makes the job much easier!