Have a client who purchased a factory built Loomis centerpin/float rod, GL2. Its got the solid cork handle with the two free sliding bands as the reel seat. He does not like this setup and wants the grip converted to something with a reel seat and not the slide bands... Whats the best way to remove the old grip from the rod? Also am I going to need to remove the guides as well for this procedure?
Thanks,
Kyle

I have not done it but if you have a lathe and can sand down the cork close to the blank you can then remove the slide
rings and put what ever type reel seat and grips over what would now be a cork bushing. You should be able to do this
from the butt end and not have to strip the blank and re-wrap.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

I have done this with very good results -

!. Make a hole saw from a length of thin wall stainless tubing that is as close to the blank OD as possible. I bevel the ID of the tubing so it comes to a sharp cutting edge.. the tubing should be 10 to 12 inches long to provide a hand grip.
2. I bore the tubing into the cork about 3 to 4 inches at a time. Make a vertical slice with a sharp blade through the cork and around the grips diamenter. the slice is usually made at a glue seam.
3. Slide the 3 to 4 in cork section of the butt end of the blank. Do Not remove any excess cork from the blank
4, Repeat step 2 and 3 until you have removed all the cork necessary to install the real seat. Keep track of each cork sections orientation for later reinstallation.
5. Install reel seat over the butt end.
6. Reinstall the cork sections using tight bond 3. in the order and orientation they were removed. Clamp up and let Dry.
7. Sand and shape as necessary to obtain desired results.

When done this way I have found that the only indication that anything has been done is the fine glue line that the tubing has created on the EOP.

Replace the cork ring of the butt end and you may never know that anything way done to the rod.

Turn around time can be less then 24 hrs. Amaze your cliebt





Scott Mumford
Poway Ca.

This message thread on this board describes the procedure Scott mentions. You can removed both eva and cork grips with little damage. I'm glad others have found it works for them too.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Lou