Am getting ready to totally redo 2 old rods to use for fishing. no problem with anything other than stripping blank. can I use a mild stripper? appears there may be several coats applied in the past and do not want to do manually. suggestions please. thanks

I wou;d scrap off the old finish. You might delaminate the old glues
Good Wraps Bob

The method I was told was to use the edge of the razor blade to scrape off the old finish, taking care to stay level with the flat edges, by pulling the blade back edge first across the flats along the length of the rod. Kind of like a backwards plow.

Like Bob said, using strippers might unglue the bamboo.

Dave

I've been reluctant to use any sort of chemical stripping agent on bamboo. But, many do just that and seem to get good results.

If you go that route, I'd tend to stay with the milder varieties such as the 3M Safe Stripper product. I don't think you'll have any problem with such a product.

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I have used a citrus type mild stripper that I got at Lowes on at least 2 dozen bamboo rods and have never had a problem. Michael Sinclair discusses this in his book, just follow directions.

I forgot to mention when I scrap the old finish off. I use either an old safety razor or an old piece of window pane. Make sure that you are level withy the flat edge of the bamboo and do not rock the scrapping device, because well round off the edges. You wont those edges square and sharp. Also uses vary little pressure when scraping and do not scrap into the bamboo its self. If you do you well destroy the natural Emanuel that holds the bamboo together.
Good Wraps Bob