What is the best way to cut off reel seats without damaging the rod? Never done this before. Seems like I read posts somewhere before about using a dremel. I don't have one myself, but have access to one.

Specifically, I am wanting to cut the reel seats off of 2 Tica surf rods so that I can upgrade them to Fujii reel seats and reposition the each new reel seat to get the correct butt length for me ( Thanks again Lynn!). I removed the cork tape and foam grips from both rods last night and was able to see that both reel seats were installed with arbors (ie, reel seats have "space" between them and the blank).

Scott Hunt

Use a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel, however, you have to be careful not to cut into the blank. Make a cut lengthwise down the seat and another 180 degrees opposite of that. If the seat doesn't come off by hand at this point, stick a screwdriver in the cut and twist, but be sure not to damage the blank.

I use a high speed cutting bit in the Dremel to remove reel seats...it leaves a gap about 1/4" wide...the wide gap allows you to keep a eye on the blank. The Tica seats come off very easy...the ones I have worked on had spacers and shims that made out of a cardboard tube.

One of the many I've cut off or boiled off was on a Berkley Lightning Rod. The seat had an aluminum finned spacer all the way down to the blank. Weirdest one I've ever taken off; couldn't get it off in the hot water, had to dremel it.

Putter

Use a Dremial cutting wheel or a hack saw to cut off the reel seat. I use Ko's method. Most reel seats have to be shimed Cheep rods use card board or masking tape. the better rods use a graphite type arbors. Some custom rod builders use sticky dry wall tape
Good Wraps Bob