In the past I usually put a narrow blade in my table saw and cut the
stacks apart, but sometimes I had problems getting two flat matching
surfaces.  This was usually caused by a little wider cut from stopping
while sawing to get a new grip to push/pull the stack across the table
saw.  This condition caused leakage problems when bolting the two
surfaces back together with a thick leather gasket about the thickness
of the saw cut.  A planer would have probably corrected these uneven
wood surfaces, but the more wood taken off, the thicker the gasket
needs to be.

While visiting recently with a retired player guy from Iowa, he said he
had great luck sawing Gulbransen stacks apart with a band saw.  He said
he didn't care if the cut was not perfectly straight and he used a thin
leather gasket between the cuts and the uneven surfaces actually helped
the two parts to match up perfectly, just like two pieces of a puzzle.
His theory makes sense and for my next attempt at a Gulbransen I plan
to make a table for my band saw to support the stack as it is pushed
through the saw.  Am wondering if any other restorer has had success
using a band saw.

Concerning Duaine Hechler's desire to soak the stack apart, I have
never heard of anyone using vinegar, but it may work.  I also heard
about a guy in Kansas who has the secret to getting these stacks to
come apart but the story goes that he is unwilling to share his secret
and he may take the secret to his grave.  Just wondering if anyone out
there has discovered his secret?

Larry Schuette
Raymond, Nebraska