I am sure there is a way to make the internal strongback work with Rob's hot-melt method. When I use the internal strongback, I generally make the forms fit snuggly onto the strongback. They are hard to move even when they aren't covered with strips. You would need to leave more space in the strongback hole to let them slide. Otherwise you would trash the forms when you wack them.

As long as you have some method of releasing the forms so that they are free to move, you should be able to break them free of the glue. You screw the forms in place in the traditional manner and just remove the screws before stripping the other half. This is essentially all you are doing the with the external strongback.

: You mention the ext strongback as the only way to loosen the forms when
: building stapleless. I believe from a prior post, that Rob bangs the forms
: free by hammering/levering against a thin pc of metal sliding between the
: unglued strips at the sheer after all is glued up. This means that one
: half (the deck typically) of the building process is performed w/ the yak
: unsu pported. Usage of an internal strongback can be by using the face
: wedge method, stripping the deck to the last central say 2 or three
: strips, and then just driving out the pins w/ a hammer and long (like 8in
: or so- prob way less like 4in) pc of rod. The pins only have to be driven
: 1/2in or so and flick them sideways. The forms are now free to move and
: you can loosen them. It might even make sense to fair most of the yak
: except the last 2 strips as it is still a rigid assembly, and then do
: touchup on the last 2 after the pins are driven(forms not yet loosened).
: Conjecture only, but don't see why not. Its still going to be a more rigid
: process as even the loosened forms only move SIDEWAYS the slop you put in
: the hole(like say 1/4in). They'll only move lenghtways after the third
: last strip is freed. I believe it would be a superior process and
: obviously alignment can retained for longer.

: -mick