Disassemble an E-block Transformer

I planned on making a guitar pickup, but lacked the enameled wire. Intent on trying to make it without buying anything, I thought for a while and came up with the idea of taking it out of a transformer for my old antenna rotator.

Unfortunately, the gauge of the wire inside the transformer was too large to use for a guitar pickup, but it still is good enough for an electromagnet or whatnot.

1 E-block transformer

1 pair of needlenose pliers

1 can of industrial strength repetitive task preparedness

The transformer I held in my hands was made of small strips of steel all put together in a laminated and interlocked fashion. Your results may vary.

I immediately noticed that the entire thing was encased in a resin-like shell to protect it and hold the darn thing together.

Start by taking one side and declaring that it is the top. You will work down from there.

On the top, take your trusty pair of needlenose pliers and insert them into one of the corner screw holes and pry one corner up.

Putting the whole it and kaboodle in a vice will hold the project steady.

From your loosened corner, crack the resin shell and laminating material between the layers of steel by lifting up and sliding along the crack on the sides.

The first layer is the hardest to remove, mostly due to the layer of resin that holds it to the wire coils and other layers.

After the first E part is removed, take your pliers and pry off the flat sided field keeper on the other side.

Pry off the next E-piece and keeper.

Then do it again.

And again...

and again...

<sup>and again...

and again...</sup>

After the last block is removed, you get two coils of wire in a plastic holster. Yay.

Now, unwind the tape, cut off the solder and other odds and ends, and wind onto your next project.