I just picked up a Scott fly rod from a customer who need some guides replaced and also at an earlier time had a cork fighting grip added to the rod, then he removed it and left some residual cork on the blank he would like for me to remove. What are some options I have to do this. Thanks

Scott I think the best option is to smile and put in the back seat of his car when he is not looking!

That is one job that will test anyone patience to the limit - only loosers in the game. I keep getting these guys in with bass rods with one piece rear grips that they want changed to a split. After scraping with a carpet knife and applying heat it is still necessary to wrap over the area with thread and it still looks like pooooh!

You have that huge precision lathe from Lance - crank her up and see if she will chew through the stuff - invite the customer over to watch!

Gon Fishn

You can pop, scrape or shave the cork off, but it will leave a mark on the blank. So you may have to recolor, threadwrap and/or inscribe over that area.

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You may want to camouflage that area. Try marbleizing.
Good Wraps Bob

I do the grip mod's that Bill is talking about all the time. I typically use a pair of plyers to pinch off the cork that i can. I then use a dull utility knife to remove the rest. Bill and Tom are right, the blank finish takes a beating. I usually take a scothbrite pad to the area to clean it up and either marble it, tiger wrap it, or just tint some rod finish the color of the blank and apply.

Im doing mine like Scott also. I refurbish a lot of 1 piece cork bass rods to split gripsAfter pulling the cork off I scrape with a small brakeoff utility blade then shape in the lathe the cork for the 2 piece split grip. I use scotchbrite to remove whats left. Dont sound like the area is very large so you can try an option that Tom suggested. Good luck.

Mike Thompson
Thompson's Custom Rods

It is impossible to make anything foolproof, because fools are so ingenious!