How to Strip Enchantments Without Losing the Item

The Core Trick

The Improved Grindstone lets you remove enchantments from gear while keeping the gear itself. This is useful when you want to reuse a well-worn tool, move its enchantments to a different item, or sell the enchantments separately from the base item.

Step by Step

1. Place the enchanted item in the top slot.

2. Place a plain book in the bottom slot.

3. Check the preview to confirm which enchantments will move.

4. Take the enchanted book from the output slot.

5. Retrieve your now-unenchanted item from the input slot.

The item retains its durability, custom name, and any other non-enchantment data. Only the enchantments are stripped.

When to Use This

• You found a better base item and want to move enchantments onto it via an anvil afterward.
• You want to keep a favorite tool but hand its enchantments to a friend.
• You are cleaning up a chest of half-enchanted gear and want the enchantments consolidated onto books.

Cautions

Curses move with the rest of the enchantments, so if the item had one, the book will too. If your config charges XP, make sure you have enough levels before pulling the book out, or the operation may not complete.